Federal agencies investigate suspicious letters to US election and Senate offices
In short
Federal authorities are investigating letters containing unknown substances sent to election and congressional offices across the United States. Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated, while postal investigators intercepted a package addressed to Ohio's secretary of state.
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Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters sent to election and congressional offices across the United States, with some mailings containing substances that investigators have not identified. The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service said they were examining mail sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretaries of state and related election offices. [ 8 , 10 , 12 ]
The investigation by the FBI, Postal Inspection Service and US Capitol Police was disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, PBS reported. The notice said officials were working to intercept additional letters but warned that some might reach their destinations. Authorities urged recipients to treat the mailings as potentially hazardous. [ 8 ]
Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma confirmed receiving powder-containing letters Tuesday and evacuated while law enforcement responded, CNN reported. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Wednesday that postal investigators had intercepted a suspicious letter intended for his office. CNN reported that no one had been reported harmed in those incidents. [ 3 ]
A spokesman for Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut told CBS News that Murphy's office had been sent a letter containing a suspicious substance. He said safety protocols and the response by federal agencies meant the senator and staff were not in immediate danger. A spokesperson for Senator Alex Padilla of California said a letter addressed to one of his offices had been intercepted by the Postal Service. [ 10 ]
The mailings came just weeks before the midterm elections. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned threats against election staff. In its statement, the FBI said it was working with law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and identify whoever was responsible for the letters. [ 5 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The mailings disrupted election offices just weeks before the midterm elections. Authorities urged recipients to treat the letters as potentially hazardous while investigators worked to intercept additional mail.
Key facts
- The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious mailings sent to addresses nationwide. [ 3 , 8 , 10 , 12 ]
- Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated after receiving powder-containing packages. [ 3 , 5 , 8 , 12 ]
- Postal investigators intercepted a package intended for Ohio's secretary of state. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 12 ]
- Senators Chris Murphy's and Alex Padilla's offices were targeted, their spokespeople told CBS News. [ 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The substances in the mailings and those responsible remain unidentified. The FBI described an unknown substance and said it was working to identify the senders.