Follow-Up: Suspicious Letters Reach California Congressional Offices; At Least 36 Lawmakers Report Mailings as FBI and Capitol Police Investigate
The FBI said on Friday, October 16, that it is investigating suspicious mail sent to congressional offices in California and other locations across the country, including envelopes containing unidentified substances. The FBI said it is working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other law enforcement agencies to respond to each incident and identify the person or people responsible. According to CNN, at least 36 lawmakers nationwide had reported receiving suspicious letters as of Friday night, at least seven of which were opened, prompting evacuations and testing; there were no reported injuries in any of the incidents, and in at least six instances the substances were found to be non-hazardous. The Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the Capitol Police are investigating the letters sent to congressional offices, and the Senate Sergeant at Arms warned Capitol Hill staff by email on Thursday that law enforcement was working to intercept additional letters, though some might still be delivered.
Several California district offices reported receiving such mail on Friday. Rep. Kevin Kiley's district office in Rocklin received an envelope containing a suspicious powder that was opened by a staff member, who placed the material in a specialized quarantine enclosure; the Rocklin Police, the Roseville hazmat team and the FBI responded, and the office will remain closed until authorities determine it is safe to reopen. Rep. Ami Bera's office said staff received one letter in Sacramento, local authorities were notified, and everyone was accounted for and safe. Rep. Josh Harder said his Stockton district office received mail containing a suspicious substance on Friday and would reopen on Monday. Rep. Jimmy Panetta said an envelope containing a white powdery substance was received and opened by a staffer at his Santa Cruz district office on Friday morning. Rep. Gil Cisneros said he closed his Covina district office out of an abundance of caution after receiving a suspicious letter, that his staffers were safe, and that the incident was reported to local and federal law enforcement.
Authorities have not publicly identified the substances involved in the California incidents or announced any arrests. Earlier in the week, election offices in at least ten states also received suspicious letters containing a white powdery substance; the FBI said in a statement Wednesday night that it was investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to Secretary of State offices and related election offices nationwide. It remains unclear whether the two sets of mailings are linked. (GSM, based on CNN and KION reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：位于华盛顿的美国国会大厦西立面。Noclip 摄，公共领域，取自维基共享资源。File photo: The west front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. By Noclip, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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