Politics
Suspicious mailings reach offices of five Colorado lawmakers as federal investigation expands
Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters sent to election offices and congressional offices nationwide, including those of five Colorado lawmakers. Some mailings contained an unknown white substance; officials have reported no confirmed harmful substance in the cases described so far.
Five Colorado members of Congress said their offices received suspicious mail as the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated a series of letters sent to political and election offices around the country.
Rep. Joe Neguse said a mailing delivered to his Boulder office contained a white substance. Reps. Jason Crow, Diana DeGette and Brittany Pettersen also confirmed suspicious letters reached their offices. An envelope containing a suspicious substance was delivered to Sen. John Hickenlooper’s Denver office, according to the report.
Neguse said federal law enforcement responded quickly and that the incident would not interrupt his office’s work. He said he takes the safety of his staff and the community seriously, while urging people not to let fear overwhelm hope.
The sender and the nature of the substances remain unknown. The FBI said the mailings were sent to addresses nationwide, including state secretary of state offices and related election offices, and that investigators are working with law enforcement partners to identify those responsible. The Postal Inspection Service said it had intercepted at least one mailing before delivery.
A staff communication from the Senate’s Sergeant at Arms warned that additional letters might still reach their destinations. It instructed congressional staff to treat suspicious mail as potentially hazardous, avoid handling it and leave the area. Possible warning signs included powder coming from an envelope, discoloration or a postmark that did not match the return address.
The reported incidents also included mail sent to election officials in Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma. In Louisiana, an employee who opened a letter was taken to an emergency room as a precaution but was not injured; authorities found no evidence of harmful substances, according to a spokesperson for the state secretary of state.
The nationwide investigation comes less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as election officials prepare to administer voting. A 2024 wave of suspicious mailings also targeted more than 15 state election offices, according to the report.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said election administrators should be able to carry out their work without fearing for their safety. The latest incidents place renewed attention on the security of public servants and the offices responsible for running elections.