Suspicious packages mailed to election officials across U.S.
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Election officials in at least 15 U.S. states have been targeted with suspicious packages, and several secretaries of state reported Tuesday being mailed letters containing white powder.
The big picture: The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are "investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to election officials in several states," per a joint statement from the agencies Tuesday evening. "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance."
- Early voting is already under way ahead of November's election and states have stepped up security measures across the U.S.
- Justice Department officials have investigated dozens of reports of threats against election workers this year that have resulted in criminal charges, and have warned the U.S. is in a "new era in which the election community is scapegoated, targeted, and attacked."
Threat level: The office of Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas (D) said in a statement Tuesday that CISA alerted it a day earlier "about envelopes containing an unidentified white powder that were sent to and received by elections offices across the country."
- The office of Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) confirmed in an emailed statement that a package containing white powder "was sent with a return address to the 'U.S. Traitor Elimination Army.'"
- Other elections offices to confirm receiving suspicious packages include Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wyoming, per the Washington Post.
What we're watching: The FBI and USPIS said they're "working closely" with law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and safely collect the letters.
- "We are also working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters," per the statement.
- The agencies recommended people to take care in handling mail, "especially from unrecognized senders" and immediately contact law enforcement if they see anything suspicious.
Flashback: "Last November, letters containing powder laced with fentanyl were sent to at least five state election offices," per the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.
- "In 2022, a mail ballot containing a white powder was also returned to a Colorado county during the general election. That powder was ultimately shown to be harmless."
Go deeper: DOJ warns of "new era" in targeting election officials as 20 charged over threats
