Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) wrote a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) expressing concern about recent incidents of letters laced with fentanyl and other substances sent to elections offices last Friday.
“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,” reads the letter, addressed to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
“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,” it continued.
In recent weeks, suspicious letters were reported as showing up at election offices in states including Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California and Georgia. Fentanyl was found in four of the letters, according to a statement from the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which we lead as Chair and Ranking Member, has jurisdiction over legislation concerning federal elections,” Klobuchar and Fischer’s letter read.
“Given the risks to the safety of the election workers and volunteers who administer our free and fair elections, and the potential for disruption of election-related operations, we ask that the Department prioritize these cases and ensure that the impacted states have the resources that they need,” the letter continued.
In a statement sent to The Hill in mid-November, the FBI said it “along with our law enforcement partners, responded to multiple incidents involving suspicious letters sent to ballot counting centers in several states.”
“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 emailed statement continued. “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.”
