Newz(The Hill) - Election officials in three states have reported suspicious packages were sent to their offices in the past week, only a few weeks out from the midterm elections. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said on Wednesday that U.S. Postal Service investigators blocked the delivery of a letter containing a “powdery white substance” [...]
Federal investigators said they are looking into "suspicious" letters containing unknown substances that were mailed to state election officials and congressional offices. Federal authorities are investigating letters that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous." Several federal agencies are investigating "multiple letters containing suspicious substances," that were mailed nation wide, according to a notice sent to Senate staff.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”The investigation by the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police was first disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The notice, sent to Senate offices, said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters, but “it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.”In Congress, the threat appeared limited to the Senate, though the House was monitoring the situation, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.An FBI statement said the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service were "investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.”"Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident," the statement read.
"We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters."Mailed packages containing a powdery substance led to the evacuation this week of election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Ohio secretary of state said the Postal Service intercepted a package containing a white powder intended for its office and noted that similar mailings had been sent to election officials in multiple states.News of the letters comes just three weeks before Election Day and is reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023, when election offices in six states received mailings that contained a white powder. In some cases, the incidents disrupted work around local elections.Some of those letters contained threats and traces of the powerful opioid fentanyl, leading some election offices to stock up on the overdose reversal medication naloxone.The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement condemning what they said were threats against election staff.“Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while …
The mailings come just three weeks before Election Day and are reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023, when several election offices received envelopes containing fentanyl. Federal authorities are investigating letters with "suspicious substances" that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide. Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota officials on Thursday said their election offices also were targeted by separate mailings but that the letters were intercepted by the Postal Service.News of the letters comes just three weeks before Election Day and is reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023, when election offices in six states received mailings that contained a white powder.
Capitol Police was disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. In Congress, the situation appeared isolated to the Senate, but the House was monitoring, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. Mailed packages containing a powdery substance led to the evacuation this week of election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
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