The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious mailings sent to state election officials and lawmakers’ offices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Some letters contained unidentified substances, including suspicious white powder, prompting authorities to intercept several items and launch an investigation. The incidents come less than three weeks before the elections, which will determine control of the US Congress.
The offices of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, California Senator Alex Padilla and Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy confirmed that the US Postal Service had intercepted suspicious letters. Election offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Idaho were also among those targeted, while the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported receiving a letter containing an unidentified powder that was later deemed non-hazardous. Officials condemned the incidents and reiterated their commitment to protecting election administrators and ensuring the safety of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Postmaster General David Steiner said the Postal Service was fully prepared to handle millions of ballots for the midterms. The agency has announced additional measures, including extended retail hours, expedited ballot processing, extra deliveries and special pickups. The developments come amid a broader political debate over mail-in voting, after the US Supreme Court blocked enforcement of a USPS rule targeting mail ballots. With Republicans and Democrats locked in a close contest for congressional control, election security and access to mail-in voting remain key concerns.
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