The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a sequence of suspicious letters, a few of which contained an unknown substance, despatched to election officers nationwide, the companies confirmed Tuesday.
The Related Press reported powder-containing packages have been despatched to secretaries of state and state election places of work in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming, citing officers in these states.
“The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a sequence of suspicious mailings despatched to election officers in a number of states,” the companies mentioned in statements to CBS Information. “A few of the letters contained an unknown substance and we’re working carefully with our legislation enforcement companions to answer every incident and safely gather the letters.”
“We’re additionally working with our companions to find out what number of letters have been despatched, the person or people answerable for the letters, and the motive behind the letters,” the companies mentioned. “As that is an ongoing matter we is not going to be commenting additional on the investigation, however the public could be assured security is our high precedence. We’d additionally prefer to remind everybody to train care in dealing with mail, particularly from unrecognized senders. When you see one thing suspicious, please contact legislation enforcement instantly.”
The suspicious letters come after federal legislation enforcement and cybersecurity officers warned state election directors that they face severe threats this election season. Election officers from battleground states instructed CBS Information lately that threats are escalating forward of November.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, instructed CBS Information, “We’re each day receiving threats, whether or not it is by way of voicemails, emails, social media or in individual.”
Benson mentioned she personally is receiving threats, “and it is escalating.”
“They’re all rooted in lies and misinformation, which is all the time disappointing and unhappy, however on the identical time, it is actual,” she mentioned.
