FBI investigates letters with ‘unknown substance’ sent to US election officials

FBI and U.S. Postal Service Enterwide Investigation Into Suspicious Mail at Election Offices

The FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters sent to state officials and election offices across the country that contain an “unknown substance.”

Just weeks before the November midterm elections, election officers in Louisiana and Oklahoma received envelopes containing a powdery substance, which prompted evacuations. A similar package containing white powder was also delivered to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, but the United States Postal Service intercepted the shipment.

The Senate Sergeant at Arms—the Senate’s chief law enforcement officer—informed members of the upper chamber on Thursday about the investigation via a message obtained by the Associated Press.

According to the notice, law enforcement agencies are working to intercept further mailings, though some may still reach their intended destinations. Federal authorities have advised recipients to treat such correspondence as “potentially hazardous.”

Brendan Donahue, a senior official with the United States Postal Inspection Service, confirmed the probe into the suspicious mailings at a press conference on Thursday. “We are committed to protecting our nation’s election officials from threatening and dangerous mail. Any threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable,” Donahue said.

The United States Postal Inspection Service referred the Guardian to the FBI.

In a statement, the FBI indicated it would not specify certain instances but asserted it was “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including the Secretary of State office and their related election officials” in collaboration with U.S. Postal Inspection Service partners.

“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to address each incident,” the FBI further concluded. “We are also cooperating with partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”

The FBI declined to comment on the identity of the purported substance.

In Oklahoma, state troopers determined the substance mailed to the Oklahoma state capitol complex to be non‑hazardous.

In Cook County, Illinois, an envelope containing only white powder was sent to Maria Pappas, the office treasurer, prompting a response from local emergency responders and law enforcement.

The powder turned out to be baking powder, Pappas’s office confirmed to the Guardian.

“Unfortunately, one‑tenth of 1% of the population causes 100% of the problems: crimes, threats, murders, beatings, and abuse,” Pappas stated in her own words regarding public safety concerns.

A second letter containing an unknown substance was sent to the Pennsylvania state department but was intercepted by the United States Postal Service, as reported by Votebeat on Thursday.

Organizations representing secretaries of state and state election directors issued a joint statement expressing alarm over the mail containing the unknown substance.

The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) wrote, “We are deeply concerned by these incidents. As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy. Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while performing their essential duties.”

Additional officials also received mail containing suspicious materials, including Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut to his Hartford office, per NBC.

Senator Alex Padilla of California was likewise targeted by a letter containing a suspicious substance, though the United States Postal Service intercepted it.

Similar incidents have occurred during recent election cycles. During the 2024 election, at least 14 election offices across the nation received mail containing white powder. In some cases, the substance proved to be flour. In 2023, election offices in six states likewise received such mail, with some packages containing trace amounts of fentanyl, a powerful opioid.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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