White powder mailed to four members of Congress was salt, complaint says
Matthew Unglesbee of Quincy, Illinois, is charged with mailing letters of white powder, which a criminal complaint says was salt, to four members of Congress.
The white granular substance in letters sent to four members of Congress turned out to be salt, according to a criminal complaint cited by ABC News. Matthew Unglesbee, of Quincy, Illinois, is charged over the mailings.
Fox News reports Unglesbee told the FBI the powder was salt and that he mailed the letters as a joke. The Guardian reports that officials say he admitted sending them.
He put his own name and home address on the envelopes, according to NBC News and the Guardian. The Guardian reports he remained in US marshals' custody on Tuesday.
The Guardian lists the federal charges as perpetrating a hoax and sending threatening communications through the mail. The Hill reports one count is false information. Its report is cut off, so the full list of counts is not available.
The Hill reports the letters were sent this month and were inspired by reports of suspicious packages going to dozens of lawmakers and election officials nationwide. The four lawmakers have not been named.
Reported by
- NBC NewsMan charged with mailing threatening letters with white substance to members of CongressMon, Oct 26, 3:58 PM EDT
- The HillMan charged with sending white substance to 4 lawmakersMon, Oct 26, 5:10 PM EDT
- ABC NewsMan who allegedly sent white substance to lawmakers put his address on envelopes: DOJMon, Oct 26, 10:28 PM EDT
- The GuardianIllinois man arrested after allegedly sending suspicious powder to Congress members using his return addressTue, Oct 27, 9:55 AM EDT
- Fox NewsIllinois man accused of threatening Congress with white substances in letters marked with his return addressTue, Oct 27, 10:49 AM 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 (3)
- Tue, Oct 27, 10:55 AM EDT, 4 outlets: Illinois man told FBI white powder in letters to Congress was salt, Fox News reports
- Tue, Oct 27, 10:00 AM EDT, 3 outlets: Illinois man arrested over white powder letters sent to four members of Congress
- Mon, Oct 26, 5:35 PM EDT, 2 outlets: Illinois man charged over white-substance letters sent to four members of Congress