Lawmakers Report Suspicious Mailings Ahead of Midterm Elections

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) disclosed that their district offices received threatening letters in the weeks leading up to the upcoming midterm elections. The letters were intercepted by local police and are under investigation by the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. No injuries were reported.

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The incidents began roughly two weeks before the election, a period described by officials as a “consequential” electoral cycle. The Guardian noted that more than three dozen members of Congress have faced similar mailings, while law-enforcement sources told ABC News that over 100 letters containing an unknown white powder have circulated nationwide. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported that a USPS investigation blocked delivery of a letter with a “powdery white substance” to his office. Federal agencies say they are coordinating with local partners to identify the sender(s) and assess any threat.

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Ocasio-Cortez condemned the mailings as an attempt to intimidate public servants and sow division, emphasizing that political violence has no place in the country. Garcia highlighted that safety protocols were followed, the letter was seized, and no staff were harmed; he thanked the Long Beach Police, Fire Departments, and the Sheriff’s Department for their rapid response. An FBI spokesperson confirmed that the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating the nationwide pattern and working to locate the individual or individuals responsible.

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• More than three dozen members of Congress have reported suspicious letters.

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• Law-enforcement sources estimate over 100 letters containing an unknown white powder have been identified in the mail system.

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• At least two separate offices (Ocasio-Cortez’s and Garcia’s) intercepted letters without injury.

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• “This string of suspicious mailings started two weeks before a consequential midterm election and is seemingly intended to intimidate public servants and sow further division,” — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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• “The letter was intercepted, necessary safety precautions were taken, and no one in our office was harmed,” — Garcia

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