White-Powder Letters Target Dozens in US Congress
More than three dozen members of the United States Congress have had offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder ahead of elections on 3 November. The Guardian
More than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are circulating in the mail system. The vast majority were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service and screening facilities before delivery.
The FBI, Capitol Police and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating, according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday.
The recovered envelopes share common traits. They were processed through a mail processing center in north Texas and carry a postmark or stamp reading "Thinking of You." Senate staff and House offices were warned to watch for plain white envelopes with distinct markings.
Two offices were evacuated. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam's district office in Leesburg was evacuated on Monday, Oct. 19, after an envelope containing a suspicious substance arrived. Preliminary tests showed the powder was not hazardous. Subramanyam issued a statement about suspicious mail received at the district office, dated October 19.
Sen. Mike Rounds' office in Sioux Falls was evacuated after a suspicious letter. Letters addressed to Senators Chuck Schumer and Alex Padilla were intercepted by authorities. Senators Pete Ricketts, Ted Cruz and Chris Murphy reported receiving or being alerted to a suspicious letter.
At least 10 people were exposed after white powder was sent to the offices of Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres and Tom Suozzi.
The letters have gone beyond congressional offices. Election offices in at least 15 states had reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening. Mailed packages containing a powdery substance led to the evacuation this week of election offices in at least two states, including Louisiana, the Associated Press reported.
House officials warned on Monday, Oct. 19, that the wave of suspicious letters mailed to members of Congress was likely to continue. No suspect has been named.
