When an explosive device was found at the suburban New York property of liberal megadonor and conspiracy theorist boogeyman George Soros, it raised a few eyebrows with just two weeks to go until the midterm election. When a second device was found addressed to Hillary Clinton, the mail bombs targeting critics of President Trump became the dominant story in the country, political and otherwise, for the better part of a week.
The AP broke the news of the connection between the Soros and Clinton devices, making it clear something broader was afoot, the first in a series of scoops keying a sprawling, days-long effort across regions and formats. We were also first to report that at least one of the packages had the return address of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and that the packages had a half-dozen stamps on them, a key detail amid questions about how they were delivered; and that the package addressed to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters intercepted in Los Angeles had the same markings and characteristics of the five others before it. And we were among the first to confirm the suspect’s ID.
Driving the coverage of the investigation into what became more than a dozen homemade bombs sent to prominent Democrats was the Washington law enforcement crew comprised of Colleen Long, Mike Balsamo, Michael Biesecker and Eric Tucker, and law enforcement writers Jim Mustian in New York and Curt Anderson in Miami. Like a host of their colleagues, they worked long hours over the course of several days to keep the AP out front; Long had to be hushed by a flight attendant as her plane prepared to take off because her conversation with a source about bomb components was scaring her fellow passengers.
Long was hushed by a flight attendant because her conversation with a source about bomb components was scaring fellow passengers.
Those scoops highlighted a sweeping effort that involved heavy contributions in the field and at publishing centers across the country and even overseas, complemented by distinctive takeouts. Among the more widely used stories by customers: a fast but deep profile of the bombing suspect, co-bylined by Washington reporters Michael Biesecker and Stephen Braun and relying heavily on reporting from Miami intern Ellis Rua, who also captured strong photos from the club where the suspect worked as a DJ.
In the background, numerous other staffers ensured not just that the AP broke news but that it held to its standards. Notably, Alyssa Goodman and Aaron Jackson on the New York photo desk painstakingly verified the authenticity of images of the devices that spread rapidly without attribution on other outlets.
This package containing an explosive device was addressed to former CIA head John Brennan at CNN's New York office, in a photo obtained and provided by ABC News, Oct. 24, 2018.
ABC News via AP
A robot exits a U.S. Postal Service facility as law enforcement officials investigate a report that a suspicious package was found in Atlanta, Oct. 29, 2018. The FBI said authorities recovered the suspicious package that was addressed to the cable network CNN.
AP Photo / David Goldman
CNN correspondent Kate Bolduan reports in front of the Time Warner Building in New York, where NYPD personnel removed an explosive device, Oct. 24, 2018. Other packages were sent to the offices of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and to the home of President Bill Clinton.
AP Photo / Kevin Hagen
Police officers stand in front of property owned by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton in Chappaqua, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2018. A U.S. official says a “functional explosive device” was found at the Clinton’s suburban New York home.
AP Photo / Seth Wenig
A police truck tows a containment vessel to a post office in midtown Manhattan to dispose of a suspicious package in New York, Oct. 26, 2018. Two law enforcement officials said a package closely resembling parcels sent to critics of President Donald Trump was found at the postal facility where it was discovered by postal workers.
AP Photo / Mark Lennihan
FBI agents escort Cesar Sayoc, in sleeveless shirt, in Miramar, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2018, in a frame grab from video provided by WPLG-TV. Sayoc was identified by authorities as the Florida man who put pipe bombs in small manila envelopes, affixed six stamps and sent them to some of Donald Trump's most prominent critics.
WPLG-TV via AP
A van with its windows covered with political stickers is shown in Florida, Nov. 1, 2017. Federal authorities took Cesar Sayoc into custody on Oct. 26, 2018, and confiscated his van at an auto parts store in Plantation, Fla., in connection with the mail-bomb scare that targeted prominent Democrats.
Courtesy of Lesley Abravanel via AP
An FBI agent, left, and a detective talk to an employee at an auto parts store, in Plantation, Fla., Oct. 26, 2018. Federal authorities took a man into custody at the store in connection with the mail-bomb scare that had widened to 12 suspicious packages, the FBI and Justice Department said.
AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee
Disc jockey Scott Meigs poses for a photograph at Ultra Gentleman's Club, Oct. 26, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Meigs said he has known mail bombing suspect Cesar Sayoc for 20 years. Sayoc, who worked at the club the day before being arrested on Friday by authorities, had worked as a disc jockey and floor bouncer for two months, according to employees.
AP Photo / Ellis Rua
Ultra Gentleman's Club disc jockey Scott Meigs displays, in West Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 26, 2018, a political text message sent to him by mail bombing suspect Cesar Sayoc. Sayoc, who worked at the club the day before being arrested by authorities, had worked as a disc jockey and floor bouncer at the club for two months, according to employees.
AP Photo / Ellis Rua
Former male dancer David Crosby looks at a poster in Hopkins, Minn., Oct. 27, 2018, showing Cesar Sayoc, second from bottom, left, and at right on a motorcycle next to Crosby. Sayoc was identified by authorities as the Florida man who allegedly sent pipe bombs to some of President Donald Trump's most prominent critics. Crosby said he worked with Sayoc about 12 years ago.
AP Photo / Jim Mone
A U.S. Postal Service inspector stands behind yellow police tape outside the Colonial Station post office where a suspicious package addressed to U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, a California Democrat, was found on Oct. 26, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif.
AP Photo / Rich Pedroncelli
Play across formats was overwhelming. NewsWhip tracked Friday's mainbar alone, on the suspect's arrest, getting more than 125,000 page views on apnews.com and the app. AP was first or alone on a variety of live video positions and other edits, including being the only agency to be live outside Columbus Circle amid CNN’s evacuation, courtesy of a Bambuser shot from New York videographer Joe Frederick. The play there was telling too: Edits on the mail bombs accounted for more than half of the 100 most downloaded videos of the week.
For their beats highlighting the AP’s broad, collaborative and competitive effort, Long, Tucker, Balsamo, Biesecker, Braun, Mustian, Anderson and Rua share this week’s Best of the States prize.