Federal law enforcement is investigating a series of letters containing suspicious substances mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide, according to a Senate notice and FBI statement. The FBI said some letters contained an unknown substance, and recipients are being urged to treat the mailings as potentially hazardous. The threat appeared limited to the Senate so far, though the House was monitoring the situation.
The mailings have already caused disruptions: election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated this week after receiving powdery substances, and Ohio's secretary of state said the Postal Service intercepted a package of white powder intended for its office. The investigations come just three weeks before Election Day and echo a 2023 episode in which election offices in six states received white-powder letters, some containing threats and traces of fentanyl.
Those earlier incidents prompted some election offices to stock naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, and highlighted the health risks that such mailings can pose to staff. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned the threats, saying election administrators should not fear for their safety while carrying out essential duties. Authorities are working to identify the individual or individuals responsible.