Politics
Federal agencies seek to intercept letters sent to lawmakers as election offices report similar mail
The Capitol Police, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters containing suspicious substances sent to congressional offices and other addresses. Officials have not said whether any reached Capitol Hill or identified the substances.
Federal law enforcement agencies are investigating letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to multiple congressional offices, according to a memo sent to senior Senate staff on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Investigators are also working to intercept additional mail, but officials have not said whether any of the letters reached Capitol Hill or what substances they contained.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms memo said more letters had been sent to addresses around the country, including lawmakers’ state and district offices. The Capitol Police, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are involved in the investigation. The memo urged staff to watch for possible warning signs such as untidy handwriting or a postmark that does not match the return address.
The notices come as state election officials report receiving suspicious letters as well. In a joint statement Wednesday, the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said they were coordinating with law enforcement to protect election personnel and facilities. They said contingency plans and security measures were in place while election operations continued.
Mail addressed to House and Senate offices is routed through separate screening centers in Maryland before it reaches the Capitol complex. The process includes screening, irradiation and testing for various substances, and can delay delivery by as much as two weeks. Congressional offices outside Washington can also choose to have mail screened or use a similar security service.
The screening system was established after the 2001 anthrax attacks. It has also intercepted suspected explosive devices mailed to prominent Democrats in 2018 and a ricin-laced envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, in 2013. Investigators have not said whether the current mailings are connected to those earlier cases.