The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters sent to state officials and election offices across the country containing an “unknown substance”.
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FBI → investigate → substance
Just weeks before November’s US midterm elections, election officers in Louisiana and Oklahoma received envelopes containing a powdery substance, leading to evacuations.
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officers → receive → evacuations
A similar package containing white powder was also sent to the Ohio secretary of state, but the US Postal Service intercepted the package.
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Service → contain → package
The US Senate sergeant at arms, who serves as chief law enforcement for the Senate, informed members of the upper chamber on Thursday of the investigation in a message, obtained by the Associated Press.
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who → serve → Press
The notice said law enforcement officials were working to intercept additional mail, but it is possible some could reach their destination.
uncertain
some → say → destination
Federal authorities have urged recipients to treat the mail as “potentially hazardous”.
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authorities → urge → mail
Brendan Donahue, a senior official with the US Postal Inspection Service, confirmed the investigation into the suspicious mailings during a press conference on Thursday.
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Donahue → confirm → Thursday
“We are committed to protecting our nation’s election officials from threatening and dangerous mail.
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We → protect → mail
Any threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable,” Donahue said.
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Donahue → say → official
The US Postal Inspection Service referred the Guardian to the FBI.
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Service → refer → FBI
In a statement, the FBI said it would not confirm specific instances but said that it was “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State office and their related election officers” alongside the US Postal Inspection Service.
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it → say → Service
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the FBI said.
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FBI → contain → incident
“We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
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We → work → letters
The FBI declined to comment on what the purported substance may have been.
uncertain
substance → decline → ?
In Oklahoma, state troopers determined the substance mailed to the Oklahoma State Capitol complex was non-hazardous.
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substance → determine → complex
Two organizations representing secretaries of state and state election directors released a joint statement raising alarm at the mail containing the unknown substance.
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organizations → represent → substance
The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) “are deeply concerned by these incidents”, the organizations wrote in a statement on Wednesday.
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organizations → write → Wednesday
“As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy,” they wrote.
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they → state → democracy
“Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”
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who → administer → duties
Similar incidents have arisen during election cycles in the country.
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incidents → arise → country
During the 2024 election, at least 14 election offices across the country had received mail containing white powder.
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offices → receive → powder
In some cases, the substance turned out to be flour.
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substance → turn → cases
In 2023, election offices in six states also received mail containing white powder.
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offices → receive → powder
In some cases, the powder contained trace amounts of fentanyl, a powerful opioid.
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powder → contain → fentanyl
The Associated Press contributed reporting
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Press → contribute → reporting
The Aporia
