Officials from various Republican and Democrat offices across the U.S. reported receiving suspicious mailings on Friday.
The Hill indicated that this incident comes as the nation gears up for the midterm elections in November.
Among those reporting the suspicious packages were Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MO), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with over 15 House representatives. Specifically, California Congress members Laura Friedman (D), Jimmy Panetta (D), Gil Cisneros (D), and Linda Sánchez (D) noted such packages reached their district offices but assured that their staff was safe.
In Florida, Democratic Representatives Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto also reported receiving similar mail, while aides for Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) stated that suspicious packages had been intercepted by authorities.
According to NBC News, federal law enforcement is looking into multiple letters containing suspicious substances that were sent to congressional offices and state election officials.
Initial tests of the powder found in the letters indicated it was non-hazardous, though further testing is planned.
According to NBC 10 Boston, some letters had a New York return address associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, although the organization stated it no longer operates from there.
A spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed to Newsweek that an investigation into a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide is underway, including those related to Secretary of State offices and election offices.
“Certain letters contained an unknown substance, and we are closely collaborating with our law enforcement partners to address each case. We aim to identify the person or people responsible for these letters. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are dedicated to ensuring public safety and securing elections for American citizens,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been holding rallies across several states, urging Americans to participate in the midterm elections, claiming his administration is “taking decisive actions to protect our elections,” as reported by Breitbart News.
