Letters holding a white powder forced election offices in two states to clear out, and federal agents are hunting for whoever mailed them.
Story Highlights
- Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated after staff found letters with a powdery white substance.
- A letter meant for Ohio’s Secretary of State was intercepted by the Postal Service before it arrived.
- The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the mailings.
- Louisiana officials said law enforcement found no evidence of a harmful substance, and no one was reported hurt.
What Happened At State Election Offices
The letters arrived about three weeks before the November 3 election, as states prepare to count votes. Officials have not said why the letters were sent, and the FBI said it is working to “identify the individual or individuals responsible.” Federal agencies are also trying to stop any more letters before they reach election workers.
Louisiana and Oklahoma confirmed on Tuesday, October 13, that their election offices had received the letters. In Louisiana, an election employee opened a package with white powder and went to the emergency room as a precaution. Oklahoma’s election office was cleared while law enforcement responded. On Wednesday, October 14, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state’s top election official, said his office was the “intended recipient” of a similar letter that the Postal Service stopped before it reached him.
The FBI said in a statement Wednesday night that “a series of suspicious mailings” went to “various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.” The bureau said, “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance.” Officials have not released how many letters were sent or a full list of the places that received them.
Safety Results And The Immediate Impact
Trey Williams, a spokesman for Louisiana’s Secretary of State, said law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances in the package opened there. No one was reported harmed in any of the incidents. Paul Ziriax, secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, said the scare would not affect his state’s ability to run its elections.
On Thursday, October 15, Senate staff were told that federal agencies were also looking into letters with suspicious substances sent to congressional offices, according to a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms, the official in charge of Senate security. Capitol Hill staff were told the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police and postal inspectors were “working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered.”
Election Security, Voter Confidence, And The Law
LaRose thanked the Postal Service for catching the Ohio letter and told county election boards to “be vigilant in the days ahead.” The national groups for secretaries of state and state election directors said in a joint statement that “threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy.” They added, “Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”
Election offices have been targeted this way before. In 2023, envelopes laced with fentanyl, a powerful opioid drug, were mailed to election offices in several states, and more letters with powder reached election officials before the 2024 election. Americans expect safe, orderly elections, and the people who run them deserve to do their jobs without being frightened.
What To Watch Next
Investigators are working to learn who sent the letters and whether they all came from the same source. Postal inspectors, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service, trace where letters entered the mail and look for evidence that ties them together. As of Thursday, October 15, officials had not named a suspect or a motive. Officials urge election workers to report any suspicious mail right away.
Sources:
localnews8.com, edition.cnn.com, nbcnews.com, iheart.com
