The FBI and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating suspicious packages obtained by election officers in 17 states.
Federal investigators mentioned they had been gathering packages, a few of which contained “unknown substances,” however no accidents had been reported.
They’re despatched to secretaries of state and state election officers throughout the nation from New York to Alaska.
Towards this backdrop, there are studies of accelerating threats towards election officers and warnings of political violence throughout america because the November presidential election approaches.
The FBI and the U.S. Postal Service mentioned they’re attempting to find out what number of letters had been despatched, who was behind them and the motive.
“A few of these letters include unknown substances, and we’re working carefully with our legislation enforcement companions to answer every incident and securely acquire these letters,” the companies mentioned in a press release to BBC US companion CBS Information .
In accordance with the Related Press, packages have been despatched to Alaska, Georgia, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, Iowa, Election officers in Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold posted on X (unique Twitter) that the individuals who posted these letters known as themselves the “American Traitor Extermination Military.”
Officers in a minimum of 4 states have mentioned the substances discovered within the packages didn’t pose a menace. In Oklahoma, the election board mentioned the substance discovered was flour.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, informed CBS that her workplace receives threats every single day by way of voicemail, electronic mail, social media or in particular person, including that “threats Upgrading.”
This isn’t the primary time suspicious mail has been despatched to U.S. election workplaces.
In November, workplaces in Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington obtained envelopes containing fentanyl or different substances.
Federal investigators are individually questioning a gunman who was discovered lurking within the bushes at a Florida golf course the place Trump performed Sunday.
