Suspicious White Powder Mail Sent to Election Offices in 16 States

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Service are currently investigating a series of suspicious mailings that contained a white powdery substance sent to election offices in at least 16 states this week. According to reports, none of the packages have been classified as hazardous so far. In one instance, the substance turned out to be flour, but the incidents still led to evacuations in some locations.

Election offices received these suspicious packages in states such as New York, Tennessee, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Additionally, similar mail was sent to election offices in Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, and Maryland, but those were intercepted before they reached their destinations.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed their investigation into the letters containing the white powder. A law enforcement source indicated that, at this stage, none of the packages are thought to be dangerous.

“We are also working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, who is responsible for sending them, and what their motive is,” stated the agencies.

Some of the packages were signed by a group called the “United States Traitor Elimination Army,” as indicated by a letter acquired by ABC News and sent to the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

Election offices in Kansas and Wyoming were evacuated on Monday. Additionally, the ventilation system in the Missouri Secretary of State’s office was shut down briefly as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Board of Elections, while not receiving any of the suspicious packages, announced they would be implementing new safety protocols in response to the incidents reported in other states.

This incident marks the second occurrence within the past year where election offices received suspicious mailings containing white powder. In November of the previous year, similar envelopes were dispatched to elections offices in five different states, four of which tested positive for fentanyl, as reported by the FBI.

In the months following those incidents, a number of election offices have stepped up their training for staff members regarding the handling of potentially hazardous materials sent via mail. For instance, election workers in Milwaukee recently underwent training on how to administer Narcan, an emergency treatment for opioid overdoses.

The National Association of Secretaries of State issued a statement urging an end to the “threatening and intimidating actions towards election officials” that have been observed during recent election cycles. The association emphasized, “This must stop, period. Our democracy has no place for political violence, threats, or intimidation of any kind.”

The rise of these incidents underscores a growing concern regarding the safety of election officials amidst an increasingly tense political climate. Authorities are continuing their investigation, aiming to ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process as elections approach.