FBI Investigates Unknown Substance Sent to US Election Officials
Federal investigators are tracing a string of suspicious letters mailed to election offices and congressional offices nationwide. The FBI and Postal Inspection Service confirmed Thursday that some envelopes contained an unknown substance. Authorities have not revealed how many letters were mailed, although the Postal Service has intercepted several. The mailings landed less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. As of Thursday, no injuries had been reported from any of the incidents.
Deputy Chief Inspector Brendan Donahue of the Postal Inspection Service condemned the mailings as unacceptable. He confirmed that intercepted letters are now in law enforcement possession. The FBI has also joined the hunt for the person or people responsible. However, the bureau declined to discuss what the powder inside the envelopes might be. In addition, federal authorities have urged recipients to treat such mail as potentially hazardous.
Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arizona Offices Evacuated Over Suspicious Mail
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry closed her Baton Rouge office on October 13 after a suspicious delivery. Investigators later found no harmful substances in that mail. On the same day, the Oklahoma State Election Board evacuated its office after receiving white powder. State troopers responded and later judged the substance to be non-hazardous. Staff in Arizona’s secretary of state office opened a similar envelope Thursday, prompting hazmat teams and evacuations.
The Postal Service intercepted a white powder package addressed to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Letters bound for Pennsylvania and Idaho election offices were also stopped before delivery. Wisconsin’s Elections Commission received a letter, and tests showed the white powder was not hazardous. A similar envelope sent to the Cook County treasurer in Illinois turned out to hold baking powder. Even so, investigators have not said whether every letter came from the same sender.
Senators Targeted as the Postal Service Braces for Millions of Ballots
Several senators also became targets, and the Postal Service intercepted many of those letters. Sens. Chuck Schumer, Alex Padilla and Chris Murphy each had letters intercepted. Capitol Police caught the letter aimed at Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, while postal inspectors stopped one meant for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The Senate Sergeant at Arms warned that some letters might still reach their destinations. The threat appeared limited to the Senate, although the House is monitoring developments. The scare comes as the Postal Service prepares to handle millions of mailed ballots. Postmaster General David Steiner pledged that the agency is fully ready for the task. In 2024, the Postal Service delivered 99.2 million ballots to and from voters.
Two national election groups condemned the threats and stressed that essential election operations will continue. The tactic is also familiar, since election offices in six states received powder mail in 2023. Ultimately, these letters show how election administration now carries real physical risk, even when powders prove harmless. Several tests have cleared the substances, yet several scares still forced evacuations and closures. That disruption matters most as offices prepare for early voting, ballot counting and a surge of mail. Until then, steady communication from federal agencies will matter to voters and officials alike.
Web Resources on FBI investigates letters with unknown substance
1. AP News : Authorities investigate letters with ‘suspicious substances’ sent to congressional, election offices.
2. Guardian : FBI investigates letters with ‘unknown substance’ sent to US election officials.
3. Reuters : FBI, US Postal Service investigate suspicious mailings to election officials, lawmakers.
4. USA Today : Suspicious letters with ‘unknown substance’ sent to election offices.