Federal authorities are investigating letters containing suspicious substances sent to congressional and state election offices across the United States. The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are working to trace these potentially hazardous mailings, some of which were intercepted before reaching their destinations.
Context
Authorities have not disclosed how many offices were targeted, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices have reported receiving these letters. This incident comes just weeks before the US midterm elections, raising concerns reminiscent of previous security scares involving suspicious mail.
“"This FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens," the agencies stated on Thursday.
Developments
The Oklahoma State Election Board and the Louisiana Secretary of State confirmed this week that their offices received letters containing a white powder. The Louisiana office was evacuated after a staff member opened one of the packages on Tuesday, but it has since reopened after law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances.
