Politics
Suspicious letter prompts evacuation at Rep. Adam Smith’s Kent office
A powdery substance was reportedly found in a letter at the Kent office of U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, leading to an evacuation Monday afternoon. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is expected to lead the investigation, as similar incidents have recently been reported in Washington and elsewhere.
The Kent office of U.S. Rep. Adam Smith was evacuated Monday afternoon after a letter containing a powdery substance was reportedly discovered at the building, his office said.
Kent police and the Renton Fire Department responded at about 2:45 p.m. to Smith’s office at 6811 S. 204th Street. The building also houses other offices. Smith said he was not there when the letter was found.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will lead the investigation, according to Pat Pawlak, a division chief with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority. Authorities had not identified the substance in the information available Monday.
The evacuation follows other recent reports involving suspicious mail in Washington. The state secretary of state’s elections division received a letter containing a powdery substance Thursday, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Seattle office was evacuated Friday after a suspicious package was reported.
Federal authorities are also investigating suspicious packages, including letters containing white powder, sent to congressional and election offices around the country. The incidents have disrupted public offices and prompted emergency responses, though the contents and circumstances of the Kent letter remained under investigation.