In brief
Federal agencies have begun probing a wave of mailings that carried hazardous chemicals or suspicious powders to election offices across the country. Several letters, intercepted before delivery, were fired back by the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service in an effort to trace their origin. Reports from states such as Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio reveal that white powder was found in envelopes – prompting evacuations and heightened security. The incidents, coming weeks before the decisive mid‑term elections, raise alarms about post‑electoral sabotage and the need for robust safety protocols.
Federal authorities say they are investigating "potentially hazardous" letters containing "suspicious substances" that have been sent to congressional and state election offices around the US.
The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are working to trace the suspicious mailings, some of which were intercepted before they reached their destinations.
Officials declined to disclose how many offices were targeted, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices confirmed receipt of the letters.
The incidents arrive just weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, echoing prior security scares involving risky mail. In a statement, the FBI and USPIS pledged to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.
The Oklahoma State Election Board and the Louisiana secretary of state announced that their offices had received letters containing white powder. The Louisiana office evacuated after a staffer opened the package; it has since reopened following law‑enforcement checks that found no harmful substances.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was the intended recipient of a white powder letter, but the USPIS intercepted it before delivery.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy also received a letter with a suspicious substance, caught by security before reaching the office, his spokesman confirmed.
Emergency responder scanner feeds reviewed by the BBC indicated that the New York State Capitol in Albany and the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne also received suspicious packages.
The suspicious mailings come just weeks before election day, which will decide the balance of power in Congress.
Prior to the 2024 election, 17 states received suspicious packages, while a year ago, envelopes laced with fentanyl were sent to election offices in at least five states.
