White Powder Letters Target Offices of More Than 3 Dozen Members of Congress as FBI Investigates Nationwide Mailings

More than three dozen members of Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as federal investigators work to identify the sender of a nationwide series of suspicious mailings.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 letters suspected of containing white powder are circulating in the U.S. mail system. Most have been intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and screening facilities before reaching their destinations, the sources said.

The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating, according to a notice sent to Senate staff last week. The FBI declined to confirm individual cases but said the investigation covers congressional offices and state election officials.

“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, and congressional offices,” the bureau said in a statement. “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident.”

Election offices in at least 15 states had reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening, the Tampa Free Press reported, citing federal authorities. Authorities have not released a confirmed total or publicly identified a suspect. The congressional targets include members of both parties.

Offices evacuated in Virginia and South Dakota

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., said his Leesburg district office was evacuated Monday after receiving an envelope containing a suspicious substance, The Guardian reported. His office said preliminary testing indicated the powder was not hazardous. The office was cleared quickly, and Subramanyam said “acts of political intimidation have no place in our country.”

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said his Sioux Falls office was evacuated. Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also reported suspicious letters, while letters addressed to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., were intercepted. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said federal authorities alerted his staff about a letter.

In the House, at least 10 people were exposed to white powder sent to the offices of Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.; and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., said a staff member opened an envelope at his Santa Cruz office before clearing the room and calling 911. Panetta said intimidation attempts “will not deter us from doing our job.”

Five staff members left the Salem office of Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., while police investigated a suspicious mailing. Testing found no substances of concern, his office said.

“Thinking of You” markings

Investigators have found common features among the envelopes, including processing through a North Texas mail facility and a postmark or stamp reading “Thinking of You.” Congressional staff were warned to watch for plain white envelopes bearing those markings.

The mailings follow similar suspicious letters sent to election officials in 17 states ahead of the 2024 presidential election. No suspect has been publicly identified in that case either.

Reporting based on coverage by Newsmax, ABC News and the Tampa Free Press.