FBI Investigates Suspicious Letters Sent to Senators and State Election Offices

The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to congressional offices and state election offices across the country. Preliminary testing of the white powder found it was not hazardous, according to NBC News, citing three law enforcement sources. Further testing is continuing at labs nationwide.

The mailings surfaced about three weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3. Authorities say they are working to identify whoever sent them.

What is known about the letters

NBC News reported that the offices of several Democratic senators were targeted, including that of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. A spokesperson for Schumer said a letter addressed to him was intercepted. Two law enforcement sources told NBC that "dozens of letters" had been sent. They declined to give an exact count because investigators are still intercepting mail.

Spokespeople for Sens. Alex Padilla of California and Chris Murphy of Connecticut also confirmed that their offices were targeted, according to Fox News and NBC News. Padilla's office said the FBI notified it that one of its offices was mailed a letter with a suspicious substance, and that the Postal Service intercepted it. Murphy's spokesperson, Josh Sorbe, said the letter went to the senator's Hartford office. He said the senator and staff were not in immediate danger.

In a statement, the FBI confirmed a series of suspicious mailings to addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and their related election offices. It said some letters held an unknown substance. The bureau did not confirm specific letters and did not say which offices were targeted.

Election offices also affected

ABC News, citing The Associated Press, reported that packages with a powdery substance led to the evacuation of election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma, this week. NBC News said the Oklahoma package went to the state election board, not the secretary of state's office, a point it corrected after publication. Ohio's secretary of state said the Postal Service intercepted a package containing white powder meant for its office.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement. They said election administrators should never fear for their safety while doing their jobs. They added that election officials work with law enforcement and have contingency plans to keep essential operations running.

Questions still open

Fox News reported that the exact nature of the substances and the number of congressional offices targeted remain unclear. NBC said the Senate notice did not specify whether the offices were in Washington or local and regional locations. Congress is on recess ahead of the midterms, so most lawmakers are in their home districts. Staff remain on the Capitol campus.

The Senate Sergeant at Arms notice included an image of one envelope. Fox News said it listed a return address for the Democratic Socialists of America's former New York headquarters. A representative told the New York Post the group has not used that office since 2013 and is no longer headquartered at 75 Maiden Lane. Fox said it is unclear whether the organization was involved in sending the letters.

Reports differ on how far the mailings reached inside Congress. ABC cited a person familiar with the matter who said the situation appeared limited to the Senate. The House sergeant at arms said no House members had been identified as intended recipients.

Why it matters for staff, election workers and voters

The notices tell congressional staff to treat any suspicious letter, package or substance as potentially hazardous and follow established safety protocols. The Senate notice warned that some letters could still reach their destinations. NBC said the House notice urged district offices to use safe mail handling procedures, including mail hoods provided by the sergeant at arms.

Fox News said mail no longer goes directly to Capitol Hill after the 2001 anthrax attacks. It is now processed at separate facilities where it is screened and irradiated. Thursday was the 25th anniversary of the day an anthrax-laced letter was opened in then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's office.

For election workers, the incidents add to a pattern. ABC and NBC noted that similar threats appeared in 2023, when several election offices received envelopes containing fentanyl, according to ABC. NBC said suspicious substances were also mailed to election offices weeks before the 2024 presidential election. The state election groups said election operations are being maintained.

What happens next

Lab testing is continuing around the country to confirm the powder is not dangerous, NBC reported. Law enforcement is also still trying to intercept additional letters and identify those responsible.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Fox News, ABC News, NBC News