FBI warns state election officials about anonymous threatening letters

The FBI on Tuesday is warning election offices across the country to be wary of anonymous threats, after at least six secretaries of state received threatening letters in the mail on Monday.

The letters, which contained identical return labels, all contained powdered substances, but no injuries or hazardous materials have been reported so far. In Oklahoma, the white substance was determined to be flour, according to NBC News.

The offices of the Kansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma secretaries of state were all evacuated after receiving the letters on Monday. But secretaries of state, attorneys general, and state election offices in Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wyoming were also targeted.

"[The FBI is] 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," the FBI said in a statement. "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.”

The warning comes as election officials nationwide report increased threats to their offices. It is the second time in the past year that a group of election officials have been targeted with substances and threats. Officials in California, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state were targeted in November.

"Law enforcement is working diligently to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered," the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in a joint memo obtained by NBC. "The election community should remain vigilant and exercise caution when handling the mail. All suspicious substances should be treated as potentially hazardous and must be handled in accordance with established safety protocols."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.