The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices and state election officials, NPR reports. Officials say some of the letters contained a powdery white substance.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., told NPR his office was targeted, but the Postal Service intercepted the package before it arrived. “Thankfully, no threat was posed to my staff or our office,” Padilla said.
He added that the incident reflects what he called increasingly hostile political rhetoric, especially from Donald Trump.
Fox News Digital reported that the office of Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was also sent a letter.
Election offices in states including Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma received mailings.
In Louisiana, an employee who opened one was taken to an emergency room as a precaution, and law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances.
A Senate Sergeant at Arms notice obtained by NPR warned that some letters may still reach their destinations.
An image in the notice showed a “DSA” return address in New York City. A Democratic Socialists of America representative told the New York Post the group has not used that address since 2013. NPR reports it is not clear who sent the mail.
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