WASHINGTON \u2014 The FBI, US Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating letters \u201ccontaining suspicious substances\u201d that were mailed to congressional and state election offices, according to officials and notices sent to Hill staff Thursday.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) confirmed one of the letters arrived at his local office in Hartford.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Packages containing a powdery substance were also opened at election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma, prompting evacuations. Similar parcels bound for\u00a0Ohio, Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota were intercepted by the Postal Service before reaching their recipients, officials in those states revealed.<\/p>\n
The FBI, US Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating letters containing suspicious substances mailed to congressional offices. FBI<\/p>\n
It was not immediately clear which other lawmakers or states were targeted and some letters were intercepted at other addresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices,\u201d a bureau spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters,\u201d added the rep. \u201cThis FBI will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy chief postal inspector Brendan Donahue also confirmed the probe in a press conference Thursday, adding: \u201cAny threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLaw enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered, however, it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations,\u201d read a Senate email notice shared with The Post.<\/p>\n
A general view of the United States Capitol Building. Capitol police are probing suspicious letters sent to congressional offices. Christopher Sadowski<\/p>\n
The Senate warning included a photo of one of the suspicious envelopes that was postmarked \u201cDSA\u201d and gave a return address at the same Financial District building \u2014 75 Maiden Lane<\/a> \u2014 that the Democratic Socialists of America formerly listed on their membership forms.<\/p>\n