Federal authorities are investigating a series of letters containing unidentified white powder sent to congressional offices and state election offices nationwide. U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), whose office received one of the letters, noted that the sender claimed affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Capitol Police have coordinated responses as the volume of mailings grew over several days, with many letters intercepted before delivery and others opened at district or state offices. This prompted evacuations and hazmat protocols, though preliminary tests of the powder in multiple instances indicated it was not hazardous, and no injuries have been confirmed.
Recipients include both Democrat and Republican lawmakers. Among the recipients are Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and several others. Additional mailings reached state election offices in places including Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware, and Oklahoma.
Notices from the Senate Sergeant at Arms described “multiple letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to various addresses nationwide, including multiple Congressional offices,” and warned staff to treat such items as potentially hazardous while law enforcement worked to intercept remaining pieces.
A recurring detail across many of the envelopes is a return address of 75 Maiden Lane in New York City, an address previously associated with the Democratic Socialists of America. DSA representatives have stated that the organization has not occupied Suite 505 at that location since 2013 and left the building entirely in January of this year.
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One of the letters that reached a recipient’s office was sent to the Grand Rapids district office of Rep. Hillary Scholten in Michigan’s Third Congressional District. “Today, I received a threatening letter at my Grand Rapids, Michigan office that contained unidentified white powder. The letter, which claimed to be from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), made a direct and specific reference to an impending ‘civil war’ beginning after the election,” Scholten announced in an X post.
“The letter sent to my office is similar to those received at other congressional offices across the country. The DSA has not yet addressed the attacks, either to condemn them or to take or deny responsibility. The Grand Rapids Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) responded immediately,” she added.
The congresswoman went on to condemn DSA leadership and called on them to condemn extremism and violence. “Even as law enforcement works to verify the authenticity of these letters sent to congressional offices, it is the responsibility of the DSA to condemn these threats done in its name—and to refute responsibility if there is none. Unfortunately, this is another instance where the DSA has excused or ignored extremism,” she continued.
Extremists resort to threats, intimidation, violence, and terrorism when they fail to convince others of their ideas on the merits. That is a sign of a weak mind and weak character. The DSA has allowed extremists in its movement who not only allow but justify violence as a viable means to achieve political ends.”
She added that “Regardless of party or origin, extremism must be rejected, condemned, and removed from our political discourse,” and that she would continue “standing up to the bull
Following Scholten’s post, the DSA did condemn the letters and denied any affiliation. “Yesterday, we learned that envelopes containing unknown substances were sent to various addresses across the country, with the listed return address 75 Maiden Lane #505 in New York City, formerly a DSA office. DSA hasn’t occupied this address in more than a decade. Needless to say, we are not involved with these letters, and we were glad to learn no one was harmed,” they said.
“We condemn all threats and violence, including when directed at political leaders, regardless of party or political views. We will cooperate with authorities to support their investigations in this incident, as appropriate.”
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