Bipartisan senators push for DOJ review after suspicious letters sent to election offices

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) expressed concern over a rise in suspicious letters containing fentanyl or other powder being sent to election offices in multiple states recently, and the two urged the Justice Department to prioritize a review of the cases.

The senators requested the review be prioritized before the 2024 election period after suspicious letters were sent to election offices in Washington, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, California, and Georgia. At least four of those letters contained fentanyl.

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The senators made the request in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in their capacities as the chairwoman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which oversees legislation in federal elections.

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“We write to express serious concerns following reports of anonymous letters — some containing fentanyl and other unidentified substances — that were sent to election offices in at least six states this month,” the senators wrote in a letter obtained by the Hill on Tuesday. “With the upcoming primary elections beginning early next year in most of these states, we ask that the Department of Justice prioritize review of these concerning incidents and ensure that those affected have the resources and support that they need.”

The senators also urged the department to consider the safety of election workers in the primaries next year as it considers expediting the review. The New Hampshire primary is in January, as are the Iowa caucuses, but most primary elections will occur in March.

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FBI and other law enforcement agencies said they were treating all the suspicious letter cases as if they were related due to the timing and nature of the mail.

“As these are ongoing matters, we do not have any further comment, but the public can be assured that law enforcement will continue to keep the public’s safety as its top priority,” the FBI said in a statement last month. “The FBI would also like to remind everyone to exercise care in handling mail, especially from unrecognized senders. If you see something suspicious, please contact law enforcement immediately.”