‘Glitter bomb’ sprays office of GOP rep

by Mark Hensch - 03/05/15 4:54 PM ET

A “glitter bomb” hit one of GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s Nebraska offices on Wednesday.

The Omaha World-Herald reported Thursday that the prank device exploded when staff opened a package delivered to Fortenberry’s Lincoln office. Glitter bombs explode in showers of tiny, sparkly confetti that are difficult to clean up.

{mosads}“You can certainly disagree with your member of Congress or any member of Congress, but this is pretty reckless and irresponsible,” said Jennifer Allen, a spokeswoman for Fortenberry. “It’s just a huge waste of everybody’s time and resources.”

Allen said the trick seemed motivated by Fortenberry’s stance on abortion. A note accompanying the package criticized his pro-life beliefs, she added.

“Congrats, you’ve earned this for denying women their right to choice,” the note read. “Mind your own uterus.”

Fortenberry dodged the glitter because he was in Washington. In addition to D.C. and Lincoln, he also has offices in Fremont and Norfolk, Neb.

No one was hurt in Lincoln, Allen said, and the prank has since been reported to police, the FBI and the U.S. postal inspector.

“Nobody was injured, except now people have glitter on their clothes,” she added.

Lawmakers are wary of unusual mail in the aftermath of the 2001 anthrax mailings. Then-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) received packages of the deadly bacteria in that incident.

The FBI concluded its investigation of the attack in 2010. It found that Bruce Ivins, an Army scientist who committed suicide in 2008, carried out the mailings.

Tags Jeff Fortenberry Patrick Leahy