Over three dozen Congress offices targeted with white powder envelopes

More than three dozen members of the US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder, less than three weeks before the 3 November midterms. Federal agents are currently working to identify who is behind the campaign.

Incidents Across the Political Spectrum

The incidents have affected lawmakers from both major political parties. The latest reported case involved Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, whose Leesburg district office was evacuated on Monday after an envelope containing a suspicious substance arrived. Subramanyam stated that the office was cleared quickly and said, "acts of political intimidation have no place in our country." His office reported that preliminary tests showed the powder was not hazardous.

In the Senate, letters addressed to Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and California senator Alex Padilla were intercepted by authorities. Connecticut senator Chris Murphy said the FBI, the Senate sergeant at arms, and Capitol police alerted his team regarding a letter. Republicans were also targeted, including Mike Rounds of South Dakota, whose Sioux Falls office was evacuated, as well as Pete Ricketts and Ted Cruz, who reported suspicious letters.

In the House of Representatives, 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. California representative Jimmy Panetta said a staffer opened an envelope at his Santa Cruz office, cleared the room, and called 911. Panetta stated that such attempts to intimidate "will not deter us from doing our job." In Massachusetts, five staffers left Seth Moulton’s Salem office while police investigated, and testing found no substances of concern.

Federal Investigation and Mail Patterns

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. Election offices in at least 15 states had reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening, according to the Tampa Free Press, which cited federal authorities. No suspect has been named, and federal authorities have not released a confirmed figure.

The FBI declined to confirm "specific instances or letters" but issued a statement: "The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and their related election offices, and congressional offices."

The agency added, "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters. This FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens."

Investigators have identified common features connecting the suspicious letters. The FBI stated that 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 featuring these distinct markings. The vast majority of these envelopes were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service and screening facilities before being delivered.

Why it matters

The targeting of congressional and election offices occurs during a critical period leading up to the 3 November midterms. While preliminary tests have not identified hazardous substances in the intercepted mail, the volume of suspicious letters—potentially exceeding 100—has prompted a nationwide law enforcement response. The incidents echo previous concerns about election security, noting that in 2024, election officials were targeted in 17 states before the presidential election, a case in which no suspect has been named.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Over three dozen Congress members’ offices targeted with white powder envelopes | US Congress | The Guardian
• inkl.com: Over three dozen Congress members’ offices targeted…

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.