The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating letters containing suspicious substances mailed to congressional offices and state election offices nationwide.
A Senate Sergeant at Arms notice to senior Hill staff warned that law enforcement is trying to intercept more letters before delivery, but some may still arrive. The notice included an image of an envelope with a return address for the Democratic Socialists of America headquarters in New York City.
What officials said
- FBI: A spokesperson said the bureau and Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious mailings to addresses nationwide, including secretary of state and election offices. Some letters held an unknown substance. Agents are working to identify who sent them.
- Postal Inspection Service: Deputy chief postal inspector Brendan Donahue confirmed the probe and said any threat or attack on an election official is unacceptable, the New York Post reported.
- Election officials: The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said election workers “should never fear for their safety” and that offices have security plans in place.
DSA address on envelopes
It is not clear whether the Democratic Socialists of America had any role in the mailings. A DSA representative told the New York Post the group “has not occupied this office address since 2013” and is “no longer headquartered at 75 Maiden Lane.”
Congressional mail is screened off-site before it reaches Hill offices, a practice tightened after anthrax letters hit Senate offices in 2001. Thursday’s notices came on the 25th anniversary of a letter opened in then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s office.
Sources
- Fox News: FBI, Capitol Police investigate suspicious letters bearing DSA-linked address, Oct. 15, 2026.
- New York Post: FBI, Capitol Police probing letters ‘containing suspicious substances’ mailed with DSA-linked return address, Oct. 15, 2026.
File photo: Architect of the Capitol photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
