HIBAPRESS – WAM
Federal authorities are investigating letters "containing suspicious materials" sent by mail to congressional offices and election offices across the United States, while urging recipients to treat them as "potentially hazardous."
The investigation, being conducted by the FBI, the US Postal Inspection Service, and the Capitol Police, was first revealed in a notice from the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday.
The notice, sent to Senate offices, stated that law enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional mail, but "some mail is likely to reach its destination."
The threat to Congress appeared to be confined to the Senate, although the House of Representatives is monitoring the situation, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.
In a statement, the FBI said that the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service "are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including state Secretaries of State offices and their election offices."
The statement added, "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to address each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for sending these letters."
The arrival of mail packages containing "an unknown powder" led to the evacuation of election offices this week in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
The incident was announced about two weeks before the midterm elections, which will determine the party majority in Congress for the latter half of US President Donald Trump's term.
