Federal law enforcement is investigating letters containing suspicious substances mailed to various addresses nationwide, including several election offices, officials said Oct. 15.
The FBI, with help from the U.S. Postal Service, was investigating the series of suspicious mailings "sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices," the agency confirmed in an email to USA TODAY.
"Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident," the email said. "We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters. This FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.”
A joint statement by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said those groups were working closely with law enforcement and security partners, and have measures in place to respond to potential threats and emergencies while "maintaining essential election operations."
“As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy," the statement said. "Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties."
Suspicious mailings in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio
Oklahoma and Louisiana officials reported receiving the envelopes, and an Ohio official said U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a package destined for the state.
In the Ohio case, a suspicious package containing a white powder and addressed to Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office was intercepted by the Postal Service on Oct. 14, prompting an FBI investigation, the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
On Oct. 13, Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry, in a post on X, announced her office in Baton Rouge was closed for the day "due to a suspicious substance found in the mail." Landry later said a law enforcement investigation into the incident found no harmful substances.
That same day, the Oklahoma State Election Board said it also received an envelope containing suspicious white powder. The State Election Board office was evacuated and state troopers responded to investigate, according to a statement from the agency.
“Thankfully, no one from the State Election Board staff was harmed as a result of this incident,” state Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said. “We want to assure Oklahoma voters that today’s incident does not impact our ability to conduct elections.”
No injuries had been reported as a result of the suspicious mailings as of Oct. 15.
USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Postal Service for more information.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspicious letters with 'unknown substance' sent to election offices
