FBI investigates suspicious letters sent to US congressional and election offices

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 16:58 · Archive

The FBI is investigating letters containing suspicious substances mailed to congressional and election offices across the United States.

The FBI, US Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating letters containing suspicious substances that have been mailed to congressional and election offices across the United States. Some envelopes bore a postmark reading 'DSA' and gave a return address at a Financial District building previously listed by the Democratic Socialists of America on membership forms, according to the New York Post. The warning to Hill staff stated that law enforcement officials are working to intercept additional letters before delivery, though some may reach their destinations.

Authorities are treating the letters as potentially hazardous and urging recipients to exercise caution. The Independent World reports that packages with powdery substances have triggered evacuations at election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Postal Service intercepted a package containing white powder intended for the Ohio secretary of state, and similar mailings have been sent to election officials in multiple states.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a statement condemning the letters as threats against election staff. The warning comes three weeks before Election Day. The FBI and Postal Inspection Service said they are working with law enforcement partners to identify those responsible for the mailings.

How it is being reported

• Feds probing "suspicious" letters to election officials, lawmakersFederal investigators said they are looking into "suspicious" letters containing unknown substances that were mailed to state election officials and congressional offices.CBS News · 15 Oct, 17:47
• 'Suspicious' mail with DSA-linked return address triggers FBI, Capitol Hill investigationSenior Capitol Hill staff were warned about suspicious letters containing unknown substances mailed to multiple congressional offices nationwide.Fox News · 15 Oct, 16:47
• FBI investigating after letters with 'suspicious substances' are sent to congressional and election officesAuthorities are urging recipients to treat the letters as ‘potentially hazardous’Independent World · 15 Oct, 16:36
• FBI, Capitol Police probing suspicious letters mailed with DSA-linked return addressThe FBI, US Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating letters "containing suspicious substances" that were mailed to congressional offices, according to emails sent to Hill staff Thursday.New York Post · 15 Oct, 15:32

In this story: FBI · US Postal Inspection Service · Capitol Police · Democratic Socialists of America · Ohio · Louisiana · Oklahoma

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem