Federal authorities investigate suspicious mail sent to election offices and lawmakers
publishers 18articles 18first reported 15 Oct, 01:59 UTCdeveloping since 15 Oct · 11 editions
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious letters sent to election officials and congressional offices across the country, some containing an unknown white powder.
Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma received powder-filled mail on Tuesday. Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said an employee opened a package containing white powder, but testing found no harmful substances and no one was injured. The Oklahoma State Election Board evacuated its office after receiving a similar envelope; state troopers later determined the substance was non-hazardous, and no injuries were reported.
In Ohio, U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a letter containing a “powdery white substance” that was addressed to Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office.
Congressional offices were also targeted. A spokesperson for Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Murphy’s office was sent a letter containing a suspicious substance, but the senator and staff were not in immediate danger. The Senate sergeant at arms notified congressional staff about the investigation and warned that, although authorities were working to intercept additional mail, some letters could reach their destinations.
Postal Inspection Service official Brendan Donahue said some letters had been intercepted but declined to disclose the number of incidents or whether they were connected. Federal investigators are working to identify whoever sent them and have advised recipients to treat suspicious mail as potentially hazardous.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 18
- Source articles
- 18
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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