A threatening letter containing a suspicious white substance arrived at U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider's Lincolnshire district office on Friday, Oct. 16, prompting a hazmat response that included specialized equipment from Lake Forest.
The substance tested harmless. But the letter was one of more than 100 suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices and election officials across at least 20 states, according to ABC 7 Chicago. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation.
Schneider, a Democrat whose 10th Congressional District includes Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, said in a statement that staff followed established mail-screening procedures and opened the letter under a mail hood. After reviewing the threatening contents, his office contacted U.S. Capitol Police and the Lincolnshire Police Department.
Lincolnshire police and fire personnel, along with a hazmat team carrying equipment from Lake Forest, responded to the office at 111 Barclay Blvd., according to Schneider's statement. They tested the letter and cleared the space after a couple of hours.
"The FBI is leading the investigations of these mailings nationwide. It is imperative that they follow all leads to apprehend and prosecute those responsible," Schneider said.
Four other Illinois representatives also received suspicious envelopes on Oct. 16, the Record North Shore reported: U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley and Robin Kelly, all Democrats. Quigley's Chicago office was evacuated as a precaution, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Schakowsky's Skokie staff identified the envelope before opening it, thanks to advance warnings from the House Sergeant at Arms.
The mailings began reaching Illinois offices a day after the Illinois State Board of Elections evacuated its Chicago offices on Thursday, Oct. 15, over a similar letter. An envelope containing baking powder was also delivered to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' downtown Chicago office that same day, according to the Sun-Times.
Federal investigators have identified common characteristics among the recovered letters. They were processed through a North Texas mail center and bore a postmark reading "Thinking of You," according to ABC 7, citing the FBI. ABC News also reported the letters contained handwritten return addresses listing a pre-printed location in New York City.
House Sergeant at Arms William P. McFarland sent a notice to members and staff on Oct. 15 urging offices to remain vigilant and follow mail-handling procedures, ABC 7 reported. At the time of that notice, no House members had been identified as intended recipients.
No injuries have been reported. As of Oct. 19, the FBI has not publicly identified suspects, and the Chicago Sun-Times reported the bureau did not immediately respond to a request for details on the investigation.
