The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious letters sent to election offices and government buildings across the United States, some of which contained an unidentified substance.
The mailings were addressed to offices including state secretaries of state and related election departments, while federal authorities also warned that similar letters had been sent to congressional offices.
Officials are attempting to intercept further items before they are delivered, but an alert issued to Senate staff said some letters could still reach their intended destinations. The warning advised recipients to treat any suspicious letter, package or substance as potentially hazardous.
Some of the envelopes displayed a return address for the Democratic Socialists of America headquarters in New York City. There is no indication that the organisation was involved in sending them, and authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or confirmed what the substances contained.
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” an FBI spokesman said. The bureau added that it was working to identify those responsible and would continue efforts to protect the public and secure elections.
The investigation also involves the US Capitol Police. The Associated Press reported that the threat appeared to be limited to Senate offices, although the House was monitoring the situation.
Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated this week after receiving packages containing a powdery substance, according to the Associated Press. Ohio’s secretary of state said postal inspectors intercepted a package containing white powder intended for his office, with similar mailings reported to election officials in other states.
Deputy Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue said: “Any threat or attack on election officials is unacceptable,” adding that investigators were working with partner agencies to identify those responsible.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned the threats in a joint statement. “Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” they said.
The mailings come weeks before the US midterm elections and on the 25th anniversary of an anthrax-laced letter opened by a staff member in the office of then-Senate majority leader Tom Daschle on 15 October 2001.
