Letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to US election offices
Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters containing unidentified white powders sent to various US election offices and congressional representatives. The incidents, occurring shortly before the midterm elections, have prompted security concerns and investigations by the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service.
Why it matters
The targeting of election infrastructure and political figures poses a direct threat to the democratic process and public safety during a sensitive electoral period.
Image source, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images By Grace Eliza Goodwin Published 17 minutes ago 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) said they were trying to trace the "suspicious mailings", some of which were intercepted before they were received.
Authorities declined to say how many offices had been targeted, but several secretaries of state and congressional offices reported receiving the letters.
Coming just weeks before the US midterm elections, it echoes previous security scares involving suspicious mail.
"This FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens," the agencies said in a statement on Thursday.
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