U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ offices in Portland and Washington were among those that got suspicious letters under investigation by federal authorities.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Thursday that they are investigating “a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide,” including state election officials and congressional offices. Some of the letters contained an unknown powdery substance, the agencies said.
A Collins spokesperson said the senator’s Portland office received such a letter Friday. The letter was addressed directly to the five-term Republican, who is just three weeks away from Election Day in her reelection bid against Democrat Troy Jackson.
The letter was intercepted and there were no injuries. A separate suspicious letter sent to Collins’ Washington office was also intercepted, a spokesperson said.
“Despite escalating political rhetoric and harassment, we will continue our work for the people of Maine,” Katie Brown, Collins’ chief of staff, said in a statement.
U.S. Capitol Police, which has cited an continued increase in threats against members of Congress, their staffs and families, have been coordinating with the FBI and Postal Inspection Service on the investigation. The letters have so far tested negative for hazardous substances, The New York Times reported.
“We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the FBI said Thursday. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
Collins’ Biddeford office was vandalized with a vulgar message last month, coming just over a week after her Bangor home was egged. Nobody has been charged in connection with either incident.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned the mailings, saying in a joint statement that “those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”