George Soros has often been maligned by conservatives and extreme right-wing groups who place him at the center of conspiracy theories that claim, without evidence, that he funnels money to protesters around the country. | AP Photo/Francois Mori Politics Explosive found near George Soros' New York home

An explosive device was left in the mailbox of a Bedford, N.Y., residence owned by billionaire George Soros, a top donor to liberal causes who is often targeted by right-wing groups.

Police responded to a call from an employee of the residence who found a suspicious package in the mailbox and opened it, revealing what appeared to be an explosive device, The New York Times reported Monday. The residence is owned by Soros' private company, Soros Fund Management LLC. Soros was not at the residence at the time.


A law enforcement official confirmed to The New York Times that a bomb squad "proactively detonated" the device and that the case has been handed over to the FBI for further investigation.

The FBI's field office in New York wrote on Twitter on Monday night that there was no threat to the public.

Soros has often been maligned by conservatives and extreme right-wing groups who place him at the center of conspiracy theories that claim, without evidence, that he funnels money to protesters around the country. Right-wing groups also often publicize his private address.

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Last week, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) floated the possibility that the Hungary-born billionaire was behind a caravan of Central American migrants making their way through Mexico toward the United States. There is no evidence of Soros making such payments, and Soros' Open Society Foundations explicitly denied funding the caravan effort.

"Footage in Honduras giving cash 2 women & children 2 join the caravan & storm the US border @ election time. Soros? US-backed NGOs? Time to investigate the source!" Gaetz wrote on Twitter.

Soros has donated $16 million to political causes in the 2018 election cycle.