On Tuesday, The New York Times disclosed that the campaign offices of former President Donald Trump were evacuated and subjected to a search after staff discovered a “security device.” Maggie Haberman of The Times reported that the search was initiated when security personnel raised concerns about the potential presence of listening devices.
The article, co-written with Jonathan Swan, referenced a police report that outlined the sequence of events. Haberman speculated that the evacuation was driven by a sense of “paranoia” stemming from an email hack that Trump’s campaign had disclosed earlier in the summer. Nevertheless, the Times’ report indicated that the devices discovered were likely placed there as a prank.
“A plastic prank device that can be purchased on Amazon for $13.97 was the cause of the problem,” The Times reported.
“A police report from the West Palm Beach police department, obtained by The New York Times, detailed the incident. Devices were found on Thursday after people heard beeping under a staff member’s desk at the Trump campaign offices. When Trump officials searched, they found additional devices, for a total of three,” the report continued.
It added:
“FOUND POTENTIAL LISTENING DEVICES // HEARD BEEPING BY DESKS // INTERNAL SECURITY ALSO FOUND DEVICE,” the police report reads. The person making the report, according to the document, “THINKS THEY HAVE FOUND LISTENING DEVICES ‘BUGS; IN THE OFFICE.’”
“Despite the police presence, officials determined quickly that the devices were likely a prank. No one has owned up to the prank, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. A Trump spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The police report said that “about fifty employees evacuated the suites.” The security official who works for the offices in the building told the police he believed “the devices were part of a prank. The suites were canvassed for any additional devices and evidence yielding negative results,” according to the document.”
Considering the provided description and pricing, the devices seem to be identified as the “AnnoyingPCB,” which is marketed as “the ultimate gag gift or a means for revenge pranks.”
