Federal Authorities Investigate Suspicious Letters Sent to Congressional and Election Offices
The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are examining multiple letters containing unknown substances.
Federal authorities are investigating multiple letters containing suspicious substances that have been mailed nationwide to congressional and election offices, prompting warnings for recipients to treat them as potentially hazardous.
The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are involved in the investigation, according to a notice sent to Senate staff. Federal law enforcement officers are working to intercept the letters.
The mailings come less than three weeks before Election Day and bear a resemblance to incidents in 2023 when several election offices received envelopes containing fentanyl, a powerful opioid.
Mailed packages with powdery substances have already led to the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma this week. The Ohio secretary of state reported that the Postal Service intercepted a package containing a white powder intended for its office, noting similar mailings had been sent to election officials in multiple states.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement condemning the apparent threats against election staff. "Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties," the organizations said.