Cruz, Collins Receive Suspicious Mailings Containing White Powder

The offices of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Susan Collins were among those to receive suspicious envelopes containing a white powder on Friday, adding to a growing list of lawmakers targeted by similar mailings. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Capitol Police are investigating the incidents.

Cruz, R-Texas, stated on X that his Houston office received a suspicious letter containing a white powder. He reported that the FBI, Houston Police and Fire Department, and U.S. Capitol Police responded swiftly, calling the incident "deeply concerning" and stating that "attempts to intimidate your political opponents have no place in our country."

A similar letter addressed to Collins, R-Maine, arrived at her Portland office, prompting an evacuation and emergency response. A separate letter was also sent to Collins’ Washington, D.C., office but was intercepted by U.S. Capitol Police. Katie Brown, Collins' chief of staff, thanked local authorities and the FBI for their response, noting that this was the fourth "attack" targeting the senator's office or home in the past two months. "Despite escalating political rhetoric and harassment, we will continue our work for the people of Maine," Brown said.

Senate offices had received a warning about the letters from Capitol Police on Thursday, including an image of the suspicious envelopes. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., reported that his staffers did not open a suspicious piece of mail that arrived at his office in Sioux Falls on Friday, due to the law enforcement warning. He expressed gratitude to the Capitol Police and the Sioux Falls Police Department, emphasizing that such incidents "have no place in our nation."

The warning from the Senate included a photo of an envelope postmarked "DSA" with a return address at 75 Maiden Lane in the Financial District, a location formerly listed on Democratic Socialists of America membership forms. A representative for the DSA stated that the organization has not occupied that address since 2013 and is no longer headquartered there.

Beyond the Republican senators, at least 15 Democratic congressional offices and approximately 26 state election offices have reportedly been targeted. Among the Democratic lawmakers confirming receipt of letters are Reps. Laura Gillen, Tom Suozzi, and Ritchie Torres, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, all of New York. The FBI has not identified the white powder, describing it only as an "unknown substance."

Congressional offices have been targets of contaminated letters in the past. Notably, a series of anthrax attacks in 2001 sent the deadly bacteria to Senate offices, resulting in five deaths and at least 17 illnesses. Letters containing ricin, a poison, have also been mailed to Senate offices previously without causing fatalities.