FBI investigates suspicious mailings sent to US election and congressional offices
publishers 74articles 80first reported 15 Oct, 01:59 UTCdeveloping since 15 Oct · 11 editionstop 25 #5
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 unidentified white powder. Several letters were intercepted before delivery, while others prompted evacuations and emergency responses less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Election offices in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Delaware and Wisconsin reported receiving letters containing powder. Louisiana’s secretary of state office was evacuated after an employee opened one Tuesday; the employee was taken to an emergency room as a precaution but was not injured, and authorities found no harmful substance. Officials also deemed the substances received in Oklahoma and Wisconsin non-hazardous.
Letters addressed to election offices in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Idaho were intercepted, according to Reuters. Congressional targets included the offices of Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer. Padilla said the Postal Service stopped the package before it reached his office and that no threat was posed to staff.
Authorities have not said how many letters were sent or identified who was responsible. The FBI said it was working with law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and identify the sender or senders.
Congressional security officials warned staff to treat suspicious mail as potentially hazardous, avoid handling it and leave the area. The Postal Inspection Service said authorities were working to intercept additional letters but cautioned that some could still reach their destinations.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 74
- Source articles
- 80
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 30 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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