Over three dozen Congress members’ offices targeted with white powder envelopes
Envelopes containing powder come weeks before midterms as federal agents try to identify who is behind campaign More than three dozen members of US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder, less than three weeks before the 3 November midterms, as federal agents try to identify who is behind the campaign. The latest is the Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, whose Leesburg…
Key points
- More than three dozen members of Congress have had offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder.
- Law enforcement sources told ABC News that over 100 letters thought to contain white powder are in the mail system.
- The FBI said the envelopes were processed through a north Texas mail center and marked "Thinking of You".
More than three dozen members of US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder, less than three weeks before the 3 November midterms. Federal agents are trying to identify who is behind the campaign.
The latest case involved Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, whose Leesburg district office was evacuated on Monday after an envelope with a suspicious substance arrived. His office said preliminary tests showed the powder was not hazardous.
Investigation and warning signs
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are circulating in the US mail system. The FBI, Capitol police and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating, according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday.
The FBI said the recovered envelopes were processed through a north Texas mail processing center and carry a postmark or stamp reading "Thinking of You". Senate staff and House offices were warned to watch for plain white envelopes with these markings. The vast majority were intercepted before delivery.
acts of political intimidation have no place in our country
— Suhas Subramanyam
Targets across both parties
Letters addressed to Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and California senator Alex Padilla were intercepted, while Chris Murphy of Connecticut said his team was alerted to a letter. Republicans in South Dakota, Texas and Nebraska were also targeted, with Mike Rounds saying his Sioux Falls office was evacuated.
In the House, at least 10 people were exposed after white powder was sent to the offices of New York Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres and Tom Suozzi. Jimmy Panetta said a staffer opened an envelope at his Santa Cruz office before the room was cleared and 911 was called.
