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Probe of suspicious letters widens as more lawmakers report mailings

A federal investigation into letters with unknown substances has expanded, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers saying their offices received suspicious mail, weeks before the midterm elections.

Posted Updated (17 d ago)

A federal investigation into letters containing unknown substances has widened, with Republicans now among the targets. A person with direct knowledge of the probe told NBC News this on Friday.

The Hill reports that several lawmakers said on Friday their offices around the country had received suspicious mailings. It names Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Republican Sens. Mike Rounds and Pete Ricketts. The Hill says more than 15 House members also reported packages at district or state offices.

The first reports came earlier in the week. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters sent to election and congressional offices, according to NPR. NPR says some contained an unidentified white powdery substance. Oklahoma, Ohio and Louisiana confirmed they were targeted, BBC News reports.

The Guardian reports that election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma received envelopes with a powdery substance and were evacuated. It says a similar package sent to the Ohio secretary of state was intercepted by the Postal Service.

A notice to Senate staff said several federal agencies are investigating "multiple letters containing suspicious substances," ABC News reports. PBS NewsHour says recipients are being urged to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous." NBC News lists the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police among the agencies involved.

Fox News headlines say letters went to Democratic senators and cite a return address linked to DSA. The report text provided does not explain either point, and no other outlet reports them.

Reported by

  1. Fox News'Suspicious' mail with DSA-linked return address triggers FBI, Capitol Hill investigationThu, Oct 15, 11:47 AM EDT
  2. Fox NewsFBI probes suspicious white powder letters sent to Dem senators as threat spreads nationwideThu, Oct 15, 11:47 AM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFBI probes suspicious white powder letters sent to Schumer, Dem senators as threat spreads nationwideThu, Oct 15, 11:47 AM EDT
  4. Fox NewsFBI probes suspicious white powder letters sent to Schumer, Dem senators as threat spreads nationwideThu, Oct 15, 11:47 AM EDT
  5. ABC NewsAuthorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election officesThu, Oct 15, 11:59 AM EDT
  6. ABC NewsFeds investigating letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional officesThu, Oct 15, 12:09 PM EDT
  7. PBS NewsHourAuthorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election officesThu, Oct 15, 12:27 PM EDT
  8. NBC NewsFederal authorities investigate suspicious mailings sent to congressional and secretary of state officesThu, Oct 15, 12:38 PM EDT
  9. CBS NewsFeds probing "suspicious" letters to election officials, lawmakersThu, Oct 15, 12:47 PM EDT
  10. The GuardianFBI investigates letters with ‘unknown substance’ sent to US election officialsThu, Oct 15, 1:06 PM EDT
  11. BBC NewsLetters with 'suspicious substances' sent to US election officesThu, Oct 15, 3:13 PM EDT
  12. NPRSuspicious mailings to election officials, congressional offices under investigationThu, Oct 15, 3:54 PM EDT
  13. NBC NewsFederal probe of letters containing suspicious substances widens as GOP senators report receiving mailingsFri, Oct 16, 5:07 PM EDT
  14. The HillMore lawmakers report suspicious packages at officesFri, Oct 16, 8:06 PM EDT

This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.

Earlier versions (5)
  1. Thu, Oct 15, 8:10 PM EDT, 8 outlets: States confirm suspicious powder letters; FBI probes mail to election, congressional offices
  2. Thu, Oct 15, 1:20 PM EDT, 6 outlets: Letters with powder sent to election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma, FBI says it is investigating
  3. Thu, Oct 15, 12:55 PM EDT, 5 outlets: FBI and Capitol Police probe suspicious letters sent to Congress, election offices
  4. Thu, Oct 15, 12:35 PM EDT, 3 outlets: Federal agencies investigate suspicious letters sent to congressional, election offices
  5. Thu, Oct 15, 12:01 PM EDT, 2 outlets: Federal authorities investigate suspicious letters sent to congressional and election offices