A “black militant” phoned the campaign headquarters of New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and threatened to “bomb all of you,” according to the campaign — just a day after Paladino was accused of sending a slew of racist emails.
Campaign manager Michael Caputo said the caller told a campaign volunteer that he was with a “black militant group.” When the volunteer asked what group, the caller hung up.
Caputo told TPMmuckraker that the campaign had immediately notified Buffalo police, as well as the company that provides security for the building. Tenants were evacuated, and Paladino himself was sent to an “alternative location” for his safety. Police then searched the building, finding nothing, said Caputo.
The campaign headquarters are in a building owned by Ellicott Development, Paladino’s real-estate company.
The Buffalo Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the bomb threat.
As we reported yesterday, a western New York media company reported that Paladino had sent a numerous racist and pornographic emails to a long list of associates in business, politics, and government. One email showed an African tribal dance and was entitled “Obama Inauguration Rehearsal.” Another showed a group of black men with a caption that included the word n***er.
In his bid for the Republican nomination, Paladino has received support form Tea Party activists.
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