Election Officer in more than a dozen states Suspicious packages received Security fears have arisen in recent days, less than seven weeks before millions of Americans head to the polls to elect the next president and Congress.
Several state elections offices, including in Kansas and Iowa, were briefly evacuated after the parcels were discovered, but no hazardous materials were found in the parcels.
“Some of the letters contained unknown substances and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and safely collect the letters,” spokespersons for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the FBI told the Post on Wednesday.
“We are working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, who or what was responsible for these letters, and what the purpose was behind these letters.”
In at least one case, a package's return address was listed as “United States Traitor Elimination Army.” According to local authorities, several bundles contained a white powder-like substance.
The Post has confirmed that dangerous parcels were delivered to offices in Colorado, Tennessee, Indiana, Wyoming, Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and elsewhere. Connecticut,
Other affected states include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Oklahoma and Colorado. The Washington Post reported Tuesday
The offices targeted included secretaries of state, attorneys general, and other public servants whose duties include election supervision.
No injuries have been reported.
Officials urged state offices to “exercise caution when handling mail, especially from unfamiliar senders.”
“With less than 50 days until the November 5, 2024 general election, we are seeing the continuation of a disturbing trend – a second assassination attempt of a presidential candidate, and threatening and intimidating actions toward election officials,” The National Association of Secretaries of State said in a statement,
“We are grateful that our colleagues and their staff are safe. We are also extremely grateful for the work of law enforcement in efficiently handling these incidents,” the group said. “This must all stop. There is no place in our democracy for political violence, intimidation or threats of any kind.”
Justice Department officials are investigating alleged threats against election officials across the country. warned that the nation It is a “new era in which the elections community is scapegoated, targeted, and attacked.”
Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump publicly issued a “cease and desist” statement, accusing Democrats of engaging in “massive fraud and deception” and threatening legal action.
“The 2024 elections, for which votes have just begun to be cast, will be subject to the closest professional scrutiny and when I win, those who committed fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including lengthy prison sentences, to ensure that this corruption of justice does not occur again.” He posted on Truth Social 7th September.
Trump, 78, has long made claims of widespread voter fraud that would prevent him from winning re-election in 2020. There is no evidence to support these claims.
Early voting for the 2024 presidential election has begun in many parts of the country.
