FBI Investigates Suspicious Mail Sent to Congressional Offices

Federal investigators are examining a series of suspicious mailings that contained unknown substances and were sent to various addresses nationwide, including multiple congressional offices and state election offices.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., were among the intended recipients of letters that investigators say contained "suspicious substances." Their offices were alerted by the FBI.

Josh Sorbe, a spokesperson for Sen. Murphy, confirmed that the senator's office received a letter with a suspicious substance. "Our office was promptly informed of the letter by FBI, SAA, and Capitol Police, and we continue to work closely with them and federal law enforcement," Sorbe stated. "Due to those efforts and various safety protocols, the Senator and staff were not in immediate danger."

A spokesperson for Sen. Padilla said the FBI notified the office that a letter containing a suspicious substance was mailed but was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service.

Warnings were issued to senior staff in both the House and Senate by their respective sergeants at arms. The notices informed them that the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Capitol Police were investigating the matter. "Law enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered, however, it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations," read a notice from the Senate Sergeant at Arms.

While the exact nature of the substances and the total number of intended recipients remain unclear, top staff in the House were also warned about reports of letters containing suspicious white powder substances received by public officials across the country. The House Sergeant at Arms noted that while no House Members had been identified as intended recipients at that time, all offices were reminded to remain vigilant and follow safe mail handling procedures.

The FBI, in a statement, acknowledged the investigation into "a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices." The agency added, "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident."

One notice from the Senate Sergeant at Arms included an image of an envelope with a return address linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) headquarters in New York City. A representative for the DSA told the New York Post that the organization had not occupied that office address since 2013 and was no longer headquartered there. It remains unclear if the DSA was involved in sending the letters.

The investigation comes approximately 25 years after an anthrax-laced letter was opened by a staffer in the office of then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle on Oct. 15, 2001. Mail handling procedures for Congress have been significantly altered since that incident, with packages and mail now processed and screened at facilities before delivery to congressional offices.