FBI, postal service investigate suspicious letters sent to election offices with DSA return address
Federal officials probe suspicious mail sent to U.S. officials
Federal law enforcement officials are investigating suspicious mail containing powder sent to some U.S. officials.
WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement officials are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices on Capitol Hill and election offices nationwide bearing a return address for the Democratic Socialists of America headquarters in New York City, according to the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Fox News.
What we know:
"The FBI and U.S. 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," an FBI spokesman said in a statement.
Law enforcement officials described the mailings as potentially hazardous. While officials have not released details on the exact chemical contents, an internal email obtained by FOX 5 warned staff of a "white powder substance" found inside the letters.
"Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident," the spokesperson said. "We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters. This FBI will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens."
An email notice from the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept additional letters before delivery but warned that some mailings may still reach their destinations. The notice included an image of an envelope with a top-left return address for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) headquarters in New York City. However, authorities said there is no evidence linking the organization to the mailings.
The notice emphasized that all suspicious letters, packages, or substances should be treated as potentially hazardous. Authorities have not publicly disclosed whether they pose a threat.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Democratic Socialists of America for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Dig deeper:
The mailings coincide with the 25-year anniversary of an anthrax-laced letter opened by a staffer in the office of then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle on Oct. 15, 2001.
It also comes less than 20 days before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
Robert McDonald, a retired FBI special agent who was assigned to the White House during the 2001 anthrax attacks, explained that investigators will cast a wide net across physical evidence and digital channels.
"What we can do now is mailings can be screened for various substances, for various weapons, for various things of that nature, even to looking at different utensils that were used to write on the package," McDonald said. "A wide array, if you will, of people who do this type of thing for different reasons. The investigation’s now going to key in on that, and we’re also going to see if anything was put on social media."
What they're saying:
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) said he directed his office staff to take precautions in light of the threats.
"We’ve had this situation before in our history with white powdery dangerous substances being mailed to congressional offices and others around the country," Walkinshaw said. "Obviously, we take every precaution in our office and wait to see the results of the investigation, but it’s really disturbing."
Walkinshaw added that the threats reflect broader political tensions.
"It’s really concerning, and look, we’ve seen assassinations; we’ve seen attempted assassinations, both Democrats and Republicans, left and right. And I think it’s a reflection of our polarization and heightened partisanship that we’re seeing," he said.
Security experts noted that while threats sent through the mail present investigative hurdles, they are solvable.
"They’re going to do a long history of analyzing both the envelope, the contents, the writing, and everything surrounding it, so there’s going to be significant evaluation and research done," said former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund. "Using a number of different trade tactics and techniques... I’d be surprised if they don’t identify who the suspect is."
Sund pointed out that mail protocols are designed to address such threats, though the initial ambiguity is always dangerous.
"It is very concerning. You don’t know if it’s from a powdered donut something put in or if it’s actually some type of device or a substance that’s going to cause harm or death to somebody," Sund said.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and FOX News.