Investigation expands to GOP targets

A federal probe of letters containing unknown substances mailed to elected officials has widened. Republican senators have now been identified as targets alongside previously reported Democratic recipients.

Four GOP senators confirm targeting

Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Rounds of South Dakota confirmed they were among the GOP lawmakers targeted by the mailings.

Collins received two letters

Two letters were sent to Sen. Collins, including one to her Portland office and another to her Washington D.C. office. Both were intercepted before arrival and no one was injured.

Ricketts office received powdery substance

Sen. Ricketts wrote that his Omaha office received a letter with a powdery substance matching descriptions from other offices. The FBI and Capitol Police confirmed the substance was not harmful.

“Our team worked closely with Omaha PD, FBI, and Capitol Police. They confirmed the substance was not harmful.”

Cruz calls incident deeply concerning

Sen. Cruz described a similar letter sent to his Houston office. He wrote that attempts to intimidate political opponents have no place in the country.

“This incident is deeply concerning. Attempts to intimidate your political opponents have no place in our country.”

Rounds alerts to intimidating trend

Sen. Rounds said his Sioux Falls office received suspicious mail after seeing guidance from Capitol Police about intercepted letters. He called the situation deeply concerning and said it follows a trend of intimidating tactics.

“This situation is deeply concerning and follows a trend of intimidating tactics that impact our team members. This has no place in our nation.”

Other Republicans also targeted

Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, said his California district office received a letter. Other targeted Republicans are senators whose names have not been revealed.

Democrats targeted across the country

At least twenty-two offices of congressional Democrats have received letters, including seven Democratic senators. Targets include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and senators from Connecticut, California, Delaware, New York and Minnesota.

Election offices nationwide targeted

At least twenty-six state election offices have received packages. As of Friday afternoon, offices in Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma…

Dozens of letters sent nationwide

According to sources familiar with the investigation, dozens and dozens of letters have been sent out nationwide matching the same description. Most have been addressed to state offices but some to Washington D.C.

“Everyone is at a loss at the scope of this, and no one knows where this is coming from.”

Powder tested so far not hazardous

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation. Preliminary field testing found all powder tested so far was not hazardous. Further testing will take place at law enforcement laboratories.

Origins and sender remain unknown

Law enforcement has yet to trace the exact origins of the letters or identify the person or persons responsible for sending them. Most letters sent to senators were intercepted before delivery.

Mailings precede Election Day

The mailings arrive less than three weeks before Election Day and after threats against election workers have increased in recent years.Similar incidents were reported in twenty twenty-three and weeks before the twenty twenty-four presidential election.