FBI probes suspicious letters with white powder sent to election and congressional offices

Federal investigators are probing letters containing a white powder or unknown substance that were mailed to state election offices in Oklahoma, Ohio and Louisiana, and to congressional offices nationwide.9,8,6,5,4,3,2,1 The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are involved in the investigation.7,5,4,3,2 The U.S. Postal Service intercepted a package containing a powdery white substance before it reached the Ohio Secretary of State's office.1

Election officials in Louisiana and Oklahoma received envelopes with a powdery substance, leading to evacuations of staff.6 The letters were addressed to state election officials and congressional offices across the country.9,8,7,5,4,3,2 The investigation began after the packages were discovered in the past week, just weeks before the November midterm elections.9,8,6,1

The FBI has issued a notice urging recipients to treat the mailings as potentially hazardous.3 The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working with federal law enforcement to identify the sender.5 The packages contained a white powder that authorities described as suspicious.9,8,6

No injuries or contamination have been reported so far.9,8,6,5,4,3,2,1