From WIRED · David Gilbert · · 2m
Suspicious letters target election offices in 32 states
Election offices across the US received letters containing white powder as the midterms approached, with most intercepted by postal workers but five states evacuated.
In brief
Election offices across the US received letters containing white powder as the midterms approached, with most intercepted by postal workers but five states evacuated. Election offices in at least 32 states received suspicious letters with white powder in the week before the midterms; most were intercepted, but five…
Louisiana office evacuated after powder letter
At 12:20 pm last Tuesday, an official in Louisiana's secretary of state office opened a letter containing white powder.The office evacuated and an employee went to hospital, but tests showed the substance was not harmful.
Campaign targets election offices nationwide
A WIRED investigation found that over the following days, election offices in at least 31 other states received similar letters as they prepared for midterms two weeks away.
Most letters intercepted before delivery
The vast majority of letters were intercepted by the United States Postal Service before reaching their targets, state officials tell WIRED.
Thirty one states confirmed receipt of letters
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington…
Election officials condemn threats to workers
The National Association of Secretaries of State and National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement: threats against election officials have no place in democracy, and those administering elections should never fear for…
“Threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy.”
Letters falsely claim Democratic Socialists origin
The intercepted letter in Utah bore a white envelope with handwritten address.The top-left corner listed the sender as DSA with a New York zip code associated with Democratic Socialists of America.
FBI investigating but offers few details
The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating the suspicious mailings sent to Secretary of State offices and election offices nationwide.
Similar letters also sent to congressional offices
The letters targeting election offices coincided with similar letters sent to congressional offices across the country, targeting both Democratic and some Republican lawmakers including senators Ted Cruz, Chris Murphy, and Alex Padilla.
What matters most
Election offices in at least 32 states received suspicious letters with white powder in the week before the midterms; most were intercepted, but five states evacuated offices when letters arrived.
