Letters containing suspicious substances sent to US election offices

US federal authorities are investigating letters containing suspicious substances sent to congressional and election offices across the country. The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service are trying to trace the mailings.

The letters were sent to the offices of at least five Democratic senators, with most intercepted before delivery. The named recipients include Alex Padilla of California, Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; Chuck Schumer and Lisa Blunt Rochester were also reported to have received suspicious mail.

White powder reported in states

Delaware’s Department of Elections said it opened a letter containing a white powdery substance on Thursday. Staff followed security procedures for handling suspicious mail.

The Oklahoma State Election Board and Louisiana’s secretary of state also reported receiving letters containing white powder this week. Louisiana’s office was evacuated after a staff member opened a package on Tuesday, but later reopened after law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was the intended recipient of a letter intercepted by the Postal Inspection Service. Suspicious packages were also reported at the New York State Capitol in Albany and the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, according to emergency-responder scanner traffic reviewed by the BBC.

Investigation ahead of elections

Authorities have not said how many offices were targeted. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service said they would continue working to protect the public and secure elections.

Senator Padilla described the incident as a reminder of the danger facing public servants and election administrators amid increasingly hostile political rhetoric.

The mailings came weeks before US midterm elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. Before the 2024 election, election officials in 17 states received suspicious packages; a year earlier, envelopes, some containing fentanyl, were sent to election offices in at least five states.