FBI Probes Suspicious Mail Sent to Election Officials, Congressional Offices Weeks Before Midterms
WASHINGTON — The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a wave of suspicious mailings sent to state election offices and congressional offices across the country, some containing an unknown powdery substance, less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
Federal officials say the mailings were intercepted in multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Idaho, Louisiana and Oklahoma, as well as offices of lawmakers including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, investigators said. The Wisconsin Elections Commission said Thursday it received a suspicious letter with an unidentified powdery substance that was deemed not hazardous.
An employee of Louisiana's secretary of state who opened a letter sent to the office Tuesday was taken to the emergency room as a precaution but was not injured, according to a spokesperson. Law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances in that letter.
The U.S. House sergeant at arms told staff in an email that some public officials had received letters containing suspicious white powder substances. A Senate staff email said the suspicious letters could have postmarks that do not match the return address and included an image of an envelope with a return address labeled "DSA" and a New York City address.
"We are committed to protecting our nation's election officials from threatening and dangerous mail. Any threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable," Brendan Donahue, a deputy chief inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, told reporters. He said some suspicious letters had been intercepted and the investigation was ongoing.
Sen. Padilla said his office is working with the FBI, the Postal Service and Senate security officials. "This incident is a stark reminder of the very real dangers facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections," he said in a statement.
Wisconsin's chief election official Meagan Wolfe was defiant: "Let this be very clear: this incident will not shake us."
The investigation comes as the Postal Service prepares to handle millions of mailed ballots. USPS said earlier this month it would take "extraordinary measures" for the 2026 election, including extended hours at some retail locations, expedited handling, extra deliveries and special pickups of ballots. In 2024, USPS delivered 99.2 million ballots to and from voters.
The midterms will determine control of Congress, and federal authorities have warned of elevated threats against election workers. It is not yet clear who sent the letters, and no injuries have been reported.
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