Federal authorities are investigating letters containing "suspicious substances" that have been mailed to congressional and election offices across the United States. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Capitol Police are urging recipients to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous." The investigation was first disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms, which stated that law enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional letters, although some may still reach their destinations.
Currently, the threat appears limited to the Senate, with the House monitoring the situation, according to an unnamed source. An FBI statement confirmed that the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.
Some letters reportedly contained an unknown substance, prompting a coordinated response with law enforcement partners. Mailed packages containing a powdery substance have led to the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Additionally, the Ohio Secretary of State reported that the Postal Service intercepted a package with a white powder intended for its office, with similar mailings sent to election officials in multiple states.
This news comes just three weeks before Election Day and recalls a similar incident in 2023 when election offices in six states received mailings with white powder, some of which contained threats and traces of fentanyl. In response, some election offices began stocking up on naloxone, an overdose reversal medication.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned the threats against election staff, stating that those who administer elections should not fear for their safety while performing their duties. Deputy Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue emphasized that any threat or attack on election officials is unacceptable and that efforts are ongoing to identify those responsible for the letters.