The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating “multiple letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to various addresses nationwide, including multiple Congressional offices,” according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday and described to ABC News.
Preliminary information suggests there are over 100 letters circulating in the U.S. mail system that apparently contain white powder, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was one of the lawmakers to whom an intercepted letter was sent, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
The district office of Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy was also sent a letter, but it was intercepted by postal service authorities, according to a statement from his office.
“Due to those efforts and various safety protocols, the Senator and staff were not in immediate danger. Our office is grateful for the investigators involved in this incident, and we intend to continue close coordination as the investigation continues,” Murphy’s office said in a statement.
ABC News confirmed that Democratic lawmakers Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester were also sent intercepted letters.
“This afternoon, a suspicious piece of mail was sent to my New York City office and was safely intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” Gillibrand said in a statement Thursday. “I am deeply grateful to the postal inspectors for protecting my staff.”
“Senator Blunt Rochester’s office was sent a letter with a suspicious substance. The letter was intercepted by Capitol Police and taken for investigation. Thanks to existing safety protocols and the swift action taken by the officers, neither the Senator nor her staff are in any immediate danger,” Blunt Rochester’s office said in a statement.
The Senate Sargent at Arms warned in the notice that some letters could make it to congressional offices.
The Senate Sargent at Arms recommended treating any suspicious letters with caution, and that suspicious letters contain multiple postage markings, according to the notice.
Additionally, the House Sergeant at Arms sent a notice to members warning of these letters sent around the country, but for safety, offices could forward the district mail to the Capitol complex for rigorous screening.
“The Office of the Sergeant at Arms (SAA) has been made aware of reports of letters containing suspicious white powder substances received by public officials throughout the United States,” according to the notice described to ABC News.
The Capitol Police referred ABC News to the FBI for comment.
The FBI confirmed in a statement Thursday that it was working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in a probe over “a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.”
Those mailings also “contained an unknown substance,” according to the FBI.
Election offices in at least 15 states have reported receiving or being the intended recipient of suspicious mail, as of Thursday evening.
“We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens,” the FBI said in a statement.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, FILE
It is unclear whether these letters are connected to the letters recently sent to Secretaries of State’s offices around the country.
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