Senate Sergeant at Arms image shows 'DSA' return address on election mailings

SAA communication warns staff not to handle suspicious letters, leave area

A communication from the Senate Sergeant at Arms to congressional staff, obtained by NPR, included an image of one of the suspicious mailings showing a return address labeled “DSA” and a New York City return address.

The SAA communication directed staff not to handle suspicious letters and to leave the area where they are discovered. The note said all suspicious letters, packages or substances “should be treated as potentially hazardous and handled in accordance with established safety protocols.”

The note also identified three indicators of the suspect mail: discoloration, powder emanating from the envelope, and postmarks that do not match the return address.

According to the SAA communication, law enforcement officials are “working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered, however, it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.”

Deputy Chief Inspector Brendan Donahue of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the organization was able to stop the delivery of at least one of the mailings. “Some of the letters have contained an unknown substance, and we’re working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” Donahue said.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the mailings, which were sent to state election officials in Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma and to congressional offices. Some of the mailings contained a powdery white substance. It is not clear who sent the mail, according to NPR.

In Louisiana, an employee at the Secretary of State’s office who opened one of the letters on Tuesday was not injured but was taken to the emergency room as a precaution, according to spokesperson Trey Williams. Law enforcement found no evidence of harmful substances in the letter.

The FBI said in a statement that the agency is “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.” The agency added: “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”

The U.S. Capitol Police and the SAA did not return requests for comment, NPR reported.

The investigation mirrors 2024 incidents in which more than 15 state election offices received suspicious mailings, according to NPR. With less than three weeks until the November 3 midterm elections, voting officials around the country are working to carry out the elections.

In a joint statement, the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said that “those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”