Maryland members of Congress, elections officials targeted by suspicious letters

Almost every member of Congress from Maryland, as well as the state’s elections office, received ominous letters filled with what turned out to be a nontoxic powder at one of their offices in the last week.

It makes Maryland offices the latest in a string of such attacks nationwide, just weeks before the Nov. 3 elections. Dozens of congressional lawmakers, election officials and secretaries of state across the U.S. reported receiving similar letters, that were first sent to Louisiana and Oklahoma representatives early last week.

The incidents are being jointly investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis described the situation as “pure madness” in a Thursday interview. The letter sent to his office was intercepted by law enforcement officials, following enhanced mail and inspection procedures, he said, after authorities flagged officials to be on the lookout for any letter similar to the ones sent early last week.

On Capitol Hill, both of Maryland’s senators and at least five of the state’s eight House members confirmed that they had received such letters.

Only Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) said the office had not been targeted, a spokesperson for the office said. An aide to Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) declined to comment Thursday, and Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-6th) did not respond to a request for comment on the subject.

Every other member confirmed or announced receiving a letter, with almost all arriving last Friday.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-7th) received a letter at his Baltimore office, according to his press team. 

Mfume sent a letter last Friday to postal inspection service leaders requesting a briefing on the mailings for all congressional and elections officials, with information detailing how many letters have been identified, how many were intercepted, and how postal services communicate with other agencies regarding similar security situations.

“I take the recent mail threat against our office with the utmost seriousness. The safety of my staff, constituents and all who enter our doors remains my highest priority,” Mfume said in a Thursday statement. “In this political climate, I will not be intimidated, silenced, or frightened from the call to serve.”

Office staff for Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-2nd) discovered the letter and isolated it immediately before notifying law enforcement, his spokesperson wrote in a statement. 

“Political violence, intimidation and threats are never acceptable. Public servants should be able to do their jobs and serve their communities without fear,” the statement read. “We are grateful to our team for responding quickly, to the first responders who keep us safe, and to the investigators working to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) also received a letter to his district office in Greenbelt on Monday, after the FBI and postal inspection services had already announced an investigation. Hoyer issued a statement on Monday calling the efforts to intimidate staff and officials across the country “un-American” and saying similar actions pose a threat to democracy.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service would not confirm specific instances of letters being received, the FBI said an a statement Thursday. The agency did say that investigators have yet to identify who sent the letters, why they were sent or what the powdered substance is, except that it is nontoxic. The agencies are working closely with law enforcement to respond to each incident, the FBI added.

“This FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens,” the Thursday statement reads.

DeMarinis said the incident has not intimidated him or his staff, but that it has strengthened his motivation to lead a safe election.

“It’s a cowardly act … the goal of this person is to disenfranchise Marylanders,” DeMarinis said. “It’s just a pure coward that wants to undermine American democracy in its foundations, starting with elections.”