Washington —Federal investigators said Thursday that they are looking into “suspicious” letters mailed to state election officials and congressional offices, some of which contained unknown substances.

At least seven Democratic Senate offices and one House member’s office were sent the letters, most of which were intercepted before they were delivered. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office was one of those targeted, CBS News has learned. At least two Senate Republicans were also sent letters on Friday.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the “suspicious mailings,” according to Brendan Donahue, the deputy chief inspector at the USPIS. Donahue told reporters earlier in the day that some letters have contained an unknown substance and that they were sent to “various addresses nationwide,” including “secretary of state offices and the related election offices.”

“We are committed to protecting our nation’s election officials from threatening and dangerous mail. Any threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable,” Donahue said. “Our partners, including the FBI and we at the Postal Inspection Service, will bring all of our resources to bear on these investigations.”

The Senate sergeant at arms also issued a notice to congressional staff informing them of the investigation. The message, which was obtained by CBS News, said congressional offices were among those who received the suspicious letters.

A spokesperson for Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester told CBS News that a state office received a suspicious letter that contained a white powder. The letter was not opened in the office, the spokesperson said.

A letter meant for New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was found at the senator’s office in New York City and postal inspectors were on the scene to investigate, an aide for the senator said. A letter intended for one of Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks’ former state office was intercepted by the Postal Service, her office said Friday.

Six workers in Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres’ office in the Bronx wereexposed to a white powderfound in a letter on Friday. The substance was determined to be harmless. Torres said the address on the envelope indicated it was from San Antonio, Texas, and his team has turned it over to the FBI for further investigation.

A spokesman for Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut also said his office was “sent a letter with a suspicious substance.”

Источник: CBS News