Pelosi's Office Latest to Receive White-Powder Letter as FBI Probes Mailings Targeting Congress Before Midterms
The office of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a 'suspicious letter' on Wednesday, in what appears to be the latest in a series of ill-intentioned mailings targeted at members of Congress in the lead-up to the midterm elections — a series now causing fresh alarm in Washington.
A spokesperson for Pelosi said the letter was 'consistent with mailings reported by other congressional offices' and that everyone in the office was safe.
In recent days, the offices of more than three dozen members of Congress across the political spectrum have received envelopes containing white powder. One lawmaker's office said preliminary tests indicated the powder was not hazardous.
It is not only Congress: more than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are reportedly thought to be circulating in the US mail system, and election offices across the United States have also reported receiving suspicious mail.
Nicholas Martin, a spokesperson for the speaker emerita, said in a statement: 'Speaker Pelosi remains focused on serving the people of San Francisco and is concerned for the members and staff whose offices have experienced similar incidents.'
The statement added: 'She is grateful for the efforts of the US Capitol Police, the San Francisco Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate this series of intimidation across America.'
The mailings are under investigation by the FBI, the Capitol Police and the US Postal Inspection Service. The FBI declined to confirm 'specific instances or letters'.
But in a statement earlier this week, the FBI said: 'The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and their related election offices, and congressional offices.'
The timing has deepened concern — lawmakers and election officials are being targeted simultaneously just as the midterm elections approach. Although preliminary tests in at least one case indicated the powder was not hazardous, every letter is being treated seriously until the investigation concludes.
Authorities have not yet disclosed who is behind the letters or what the motive may be. Attention now rests on the investigations led by the FBI and its partner agencies — and on whether this campaign of intimidation can be stopped during a sensitive pre-election period.
