FBI Probe Widens as Suspicious Letters Reach Election and Congressional Offices

Election offices in three states reported receiving suspicious packages during the week before October 15, according to The Hill. Some of the mailings contained an unidentified powdery white substance, NPR News reported.

Oklahoma, Ohio and Louisiana confirmed they had been targeted, according to BBC World. The reports came just three weeks before Election Day, Global News reported.

On October 15, the investigation extended beyond election offices. A notice sent to Senate staff described multiple letters containing suspicious substances mailed nationwide, according to ABCNews.com.

The FBI, US Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police were investigating letters sent to congressional offices, according to emails sent to congressional staff that Thursday, the New York Post reported.

On October 16, NBC News reported that the federal investigation had widened as some Republican senators were identified as targets. Its account cited a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

By October 17, more lawmakers were reporting suspicious mailings at their offices across the country. The Hill reported that several lawmakers had disclosed receiving them on Friday.

A separate October 17 report described an envelope containing suspicious powder sent to a California congressman. The envelope came from New York and appeared similar to other letters under federal investigation, according to the New York Post.

Federal agencies are investigating mailings to both election officials and congressional offices. The available coverage does not establish what the substances are or whether they are dangerous, a distinction also reflected in DIE ZEIT's reporting.

Congressional staff have opened letters containing suspicious substances, according to NYT Politics. That report placed the incidents alongside a growing number of threats reported by election officials, but did not establish who was responsible for the mailings.

The central unresolved issue is the identification of the substances and whether they pose a health risk. DIE ZEIT reported that their danger remained unclear.

Another open question is whether investigators connect the different mailings. The California envelope appeared similar to others being examined, according to the New York Post, but that does not establish a common sender.