FBI, Capitol Police probe suspicious white‑powder letters sent to Congress and state election offices
Federal law‑enforcement agencies are investigating a series of letters that contained an unknown white powder and were mailed to congressional offices on Capitol Hill and to state election offices in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Ohio in early October 2026.
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police issued alerts through the Senate and House Sergeants‑at‑Arms, urging staff to remain vigilant, follow safe‑mail handling procedures and treat any suspicious items as potentially hazardous.
Law enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered, however, it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.
Both the Senate and House notices warned that "all suspicious letters, packages, or substances should be treated as potentially hazardous." The letters prompted evacuations and the activation of hazardous‑material protocols at the affected offices.
Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.
One envelope bore a return address linked to the Democratic Socialists of America’s former New York City headquarters; the organization has said it no longer occupies that address and has not commented further.
State officials described their responses. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an employee discovered the powder inside a package, prompting the Elections Division to evacuate the building and shut off air‑conditioning as a precaution. Oklahoma’s State Election Board received a similar envelope, resulting in an evacuation and assistance from the state highway patrol, fire department and National Guard. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose condemned the threats, stating, "We have a duty to the citizens of Ohio to deliver secure and accessible elections, and these kinds of cowardly threats will not deter us from that mission."
Election officials should never fear for their safety while carrying out essential duties.
The investigation continues as the nation prepares for the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Federal officials said they remain committed to safeguarding the public and securing the electoral process, while urging anyone who receives similar mail to report it immediately.
