Senators call the incidents deeply concerning, express gratitude to law enforcement and staffers, and state that political intimidation has no place in the U.S.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Capitol Police are investigating after dozens of federal legislators and other government officials received envelopes containing a suspicious substance over the past week, ahead of the nation’s midterm elections. Bipartisan members of Congress from both the Senate and House have either received the envelopes at their offices or postal investigators intercepted them. All the envelopes have been hand-addressed with the same return address.
“My Houston office received a suspicious piece of mail containing a white powder substance,” Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated on Friday. “The FBI, Houston Police and Fire Department, and U.S. Capitol Police responded swiftly. I am grateful to law enforcement for their professionalism and to my dedicated team members, who work tirelessly on behalf of Texans. This incident is deeply concerning. Attempts to intimidate your political opponents have no place in our country.”
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota also stated Friday, “I am grateful for the U.S. Capitol Police, who intercepted other letters and sent out a warning allowing my team to recognize this letter before opening it, and to the Sioux Falls Police Department. I am also grateful for all of my team members, who work tirelessly on behalf of South Dakotans despite the risks involved.”
Senator Rounds reiterated that the attempt to politically intimidate was deeply concerning, “This has no place in our nation. America is better than this.”
“This attempt to intimidate elected officials and our staff will not succeed,” Senator Adam Schiff of California said after one such envelope was intercepted en route to his California offices. “We instead condemn these threats as antithetical to the values of our nation, recommit to our work and thank the law enforcement and postal officials who are helping keep our teams safe.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Capitol Police as they investigate the envelopes with the suspicious substance.
- For the Lord’s protection over current members of the House and Senate and for candidates for federal, state, and local offices.
Sources: UPI News, NY Post
