The key facts
- The FBI and USPIS are investigating letters described as 'potentially dangerous' sent to Congress and state election offices
- Recipients include Senators Padilla, Murphy, Gillibrand, Schumer and Lisa Blunt Rochester; letters to Ohio offices were intercepted
- The incident follows previous ones: in 2024, officials in 17 states received suspicious packages
Investigation into suspicious mailings
US federal authorities report an investigation into 'potentially dangerous' letters containing 'suspicious substances' sent to the offices of members of Congress and state election agencies across the country. The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) said they are trying to identify the source of the mailings; some letters were intercepted before delivery. The agencies did not specify how many offices were affected, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices reported receiving letters.
Who the letters were addressed to
According to the BBC, the letters were sent to the offices of at least five Democratic senators, most of them intercepted before delivery. The offices confirmed receipt of letters by California Senator Alex Padilla, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. According to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, letters were also received by New York Senator Chuck Schumer and Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester. Padilla told the BBC: 'This incident is a stark reminder of the very real danger faced by those who serve the public and help conduct our elections, amid increasingly hostile political rhetoric.'
Incidents in the states
Several state agencies also received suspicious letters. The Delaware Department of Elections said it received and opened a letter containing a white powdery substance on Thursday; staff followed safety protocols. The Oklahoma Election Board and the Louisiana secretary of state said this week they had received letters with white powder. The Louisiana office was evacuated after a package was opened on Tuesday, but was later reopened — law enforcement found no traces of harmful substances. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was the addressee of a letter containing white powder, but the USPIS intercepted it. According to emergency services audio reviewed by the BBC, suspicious packages were also received by the state capitols of New York in Albany and Wyoming in Cheyenne.
Election context
The mailing occurred weeks before midterm election day, which will determine the balance of power in Congress. In a statement on Thursday, the agencies pledged to 'continue to protect the public and ensure election safety for American citizens.' This is not the first such case: ahead of the 2024 elections, election officials in 17 states received suspicious packages, and a year earlier, suspicious envelopes were sent to election offices in at least five states, some of which were laced with fentanyl.
Image source, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
