World Courant
The FBI and the Postal Service are investigating suspicious mail containing a white powdery substance despatched to election workplaces in no less than 16 states this week, in accordance with a nationwide tally by ABC Information.
To this point, not one of the mail has been declared hazardous – and in a single case it turned out to be flour – however the scare has prompted evacuations in some areas.
Election workplaces in New York, Tennessee, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Massachusetts obtained the suspicious packages. Comparable suspicious mail was addressed to workplaces in different states — together with Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, Maryland and Maine — however investigators intercepted them earlier than they reached their vacation spot.
A Nationwide Guard Civilian Help Crew group is investigating after a suspicious bundle was delivered to election officers on the Missouri Secretary of State’s workplace in Jefferson Metropolis, Missouri, on September 17, 2024.
Summer time Ballentine/AP
The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service mentioned in a press release Tuesday that they had been analyzing letters containing white powdery substances. A legislation enforcement supply mentioned not one of the packages had been thought of harmful right now.
“We’re additionally working with our companions to find out what number of letters had been despatched, which particular person or individuals are liable for the letters, and the motive behind the letters,” the assertion mentioned.
At the very least among the packages had been signed by the “United States Traitor Elimination Military,” in accordance with a replica of a letter despatched to members of the Elections Infrastructure Data Sharing and Evaluation Middle and obtained by ABC Information.
The Oklahoma State Election Board workplace on the state Capitol in Oklahoma Metropolis was one in every of no less than 5 U.S. states the place election officers obtained suspicious packages on Sept. 16, 2024.
Sean Murphy/AP
Election workplaces in Kansas and Wyoming had been evacuated Monday, officers mentioned, and the air flow system on the Missouri secretary of state’s workplace in Jefferson Metropolis was briefly turned off as a precaution. The North Carolina Board of Elections didn’t obtain any packages containing the white powder, however an official there instructed ABC Information they’re taking new security precautions in gentle of incidents in different states.
This newest incident marks the second time prior to now 12 months that suspicious mail containing a white powdery substance has been despatched to election workplaces. Final November, comparable envelopes had been despatched to election workplaces in 5 states, 4 of which examined optimistic for fentanyl, the FBI mentioned on the time.
Within the intervening months, a number of workplaces have taken steps to coach workers on how one can deal with poisonous supplies despatched by means of the mail. In Milwaukee, for instance, election employees not too long ago obtained coaching on how one can administer Narcan.
The Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State has issued a press release calling for an finish to “threatening and intimidating actions towards election officers” throughout current election cycles.
“This has to cease, interval,” the assertion learn. “Our democracy has no place for political violence, threats or intimidation of any sort.”
