Suspicious Letters Containing Powder Sent to Election Workers in Multiple States Investigated by Law Enforcement

Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are investigating a series of letters containing suspicious powder that have been sent to election workers in multiple states in recent days.

The envelopes were sent to election offices in King County, Skagit County, Spokane County, and Pierce County in Washington State. The FBI field office in Portland also reported multiple incidents involving suspicious letters sent to ballot counting centers in Oregon.

William Muse, a Tacoma Police spokesperson, told The that an envelope received by the Pierce County elections office contained baking soda. Renton Police Detective Robert Onishi confirmed that an envelope received by workers at a King County elections office field-tested positive for fentanyl. Spokane Police Department spokesperson Julie Humphreys said in a news release that fentanyl was found in an envelope at the Spokane County Elections Office.

No one was injured in any of the incidents, and officials are continuing to investigate. The Secretary of State’s Office has urged election workers to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation into the suspicious letters. It is unclear at this time who is responsible for sending the letters or what their motives may be.