Clinton Campaign Returns to Trail After Hostage Incident

Dec. 1, 2007 — -- Sen. Hillary Clinton plans to return to the presidential campaign trail Sunday in Iowa on the heels of a hostage emergency at her Rochester, N.H., campaign office Friday.

But the New Hampshire office remains closed today and it is unclear when, or if, it will reopen.

Clinton raced to New Hampshire after learning Leeland Eisenberg allegedly walked into the office claiming to be strapped with a bomb and held as many as five people hostage.

As police continue their investigation and Eisenberg remained in custody, Clinton expressed her gratitude to officers who dealt with the emergency and said she was glad the incident ended peacefully.

"This was obviously a very difficult situation," she said. "I just met with hostages and a number of their families and [they feel] a lot of relief, a lot of gratitude."

Meanwhile, more details about the man who kept police at bay for six hours have emerged. Eisenberg, who now faces several charges including kidnapping, criminal threatening and reckless conduct at the state level, has a history of emotional problems and his wife filed for divorce last week.

Eisenberg also may face possible federal charges.

It also turns out the bomb Eisenberg claimed to have strapped to himself was really a harmless device made of road flares.

Eisenberg said he wanted to meet with Clinton during the standoff. Clinton had offered to cooperate, but police negotiators did not want her to talk with Eisenberg.

"He would have liked to talk to Sen. Clinton," said New Hampshire state police director Frederick Booth. "But as a tactical standpoint, that would not have been a wise move for us to do that, because if we put up that chip in the very beginning, then there was no place to negotiate."

The hostages were able to serve as mediators between Eisenberg and police, as negotiators worked to release them.

"They were extremely helpful in bringing this to a successful conclusion," Booth said.