Suspicious mail reported at several congressional offices across several states
Multiple congressional offices across the United States reported receiving suspicious mail Friday, including envelopes containing unknown substances, as federal authorities investigate a wider series of mailings targeting lawmakers and election officials.
The incidents involved the offices of Reps. Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto in Florida, Sen. Mike Rounds in South Dakota and Rep. Jimmy Panetta in California. Frost’s Orlando office and Rounds’ Sioux Falls office were evacuated.
In Florida, the Orlando office of Rep. Maxwell Frost was evacuated after receiving a suspicious package that the Democratic congressman said matched those reported at other offices nationwide. The U.S. Capitol Police and Orlando Police Department were notified, and Frost said he and his staff were safe.
The office of fellow Florida Democrat Rep. Darren Soto also received an envelope containing a suspicious substance. According to Soto’s office, local law enforcement intercepted the envelope after Frost’s office alerted staff to monitor incoming mail. No staff members were injured.
A photograph shared publicly showed an envelope addressed to Soto at his Kissimmee, Florida, office.
In South Dakota, Sen. Mike Rounds said his Sioux Falls office received a suspicious piece of mail. Staff followed safety procedures recommended by the U.S. Capitol Police and contacted local police, who responded and evacuated the office. Rounds said his office would remain closed for the rest of Friday while the investigation continued.
Rounds also thanked Capitol Police for intercepting other letters and issuing a warning that helped his staff recognize the suspicious mail before opening it.
In California, Rep. Jimmy Panetta reported that an envelope containing a suspicious white powder was delivered to his Santa Cruz district office and opened by a staff member Friday morning. The employee placed the envelope in a trash can, cleared other staff from the office and called 911, according to Panetta’s statement.
Panetta said medical officials had initially cleared the employee and other staff members. The incident prompted the evacuation of the Santa Cruz County government building and courthouse while emergency crews responded.
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry’s office received a letter containing a white powder earlier in the week, prompting an evacuation. An employee who opened the letter was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Authorities later determined the substance was not harmful.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices and state election officials in multiple states. The U.S. Capitol Police has also warned congressional offices about the letters, some of which contain unknown substances.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
