FBI investigates threatening letters sent to election officials
Photo: The FBI is investigating threatening letters to US election officials (Getty Images)
Election officials in six US states have received threatening letters, prompting investigations by the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service, according to NBC News.
A senior law enforcement official told American media that no dangerous materials have been found in any of the packages received by election officials in at least six states.
The FBI has urged US election commissions to remain vigilant following the receipt of threatening letters containing suspicious substances sent to several state secretaries’ offices across the country.
The targets of these unknown senders include state secretaries, attorneys general’s offices, and election offices in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.
The return address on the packages identified the sender as the "U.S.T.E.A. — US Traitor Elimination Army."
Yesterday, the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, as well as offices in Iowa and Oklahoma, were evacuated due to this situation.
The FBI stated that it 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.”
A joint statement from the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service said, “Law enforcement is working diligently to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered.”
Regarding recommendations for election officials concerning the packages, American law enforcement agencies stated, “All suspicious substances should be treated as potentially hazardous and must be handled in accordance with established safety protocols.”
The FBI also noted that efforts are underway to determine the total number of letters sent.
Notably, these threats to US election officials come just weeks before Americans head to the polls on November 15 to vote in the presidential election.
On August 11, the campaign headquarters of US presidential candidate Donald Trump reported that their computers had been hacked.
Previously, a June 13 report from Google revealed that Iran had targeted around a dozen individuals associated with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Trump in an ongoing phishing attack. It was later revealed that the FBI was investigating the hacking of the presidential candidates' campaign offices.
US intelligence officials have indicated that they believe Iran is responsible for the cyberattacks and attempts to breach the computers of the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
