Utah Lt. Gov. responds to white substance found in letter addressed to her staff office
The FBI found a suspicious letter addressed toLt. Governor Deidre Henderson's staff office.
The envelope, containing white powderand signed by the so-called "United States Traitor Elimination Army," was intercepted in Reno, Nevada, Lt. Gov. Henderson's office said.
Law enforcement officials are reportedly investigating the threat and testing the substance.
Lt. Gov. Henderson said the incident is the latest tactic in a nationwide trend of threats and intimidation toward election officials.
"But we will not be intimidated," she said. "I am grateful for the swift action of postal workers and law enforcement and the perseverance of election workers who show up and do their jobs every day despite all the rhetoric and risk. We love them. We owe them. They are heroes."
Lt. Gov. Henderson's office said Utah is one of at least 20 states targeted just in the last week.
"The lieutenant governor and state law enforcement officials will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of election workers and maintain an orderly election,"Lt. Gov. Henderson's office said.
FBI public information officer Sandra Barker released a statement:
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to election officials in several states. Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and safely collect the letters. We are also working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters. As this is an ongoing matter we will not be commenting further on the investigation, but the public can be assured safety is our top priority. We would also like to remind everyone to exercise care in handling mail, especially from unrecognized senders. If you see something suspicious, please contact law enforcement immediately.
