MILWAUKEE — Federal authorities are investigating suspicious letters sent to Wisconsin election officials and members of Congress, raising security concerns as early voting begins ahead of the November 3 general election.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are working to determine who sent the letters, which were received by the Wisconsin Elections Commission and several members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation.
Congresswoman Gwen Moore and U.S. Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin were among those who received suspicious mail.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) also received suspicious mail last week.
According to the commission, an employee noticed that the envelope appeared similar to suspicious mail received in other states involving an unidentified powdery substance.
The employee did not open the envelope and immediately contacted authorities.
Field testing determined that no hazardous materials were present. No injuries or health impacts were reported.
During a news conference in Milwaukee on Monday, WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe said investigators are continuing their work.
“We haven’t learned anymore, and it’s an ongoing investigation with law enforcement. But we do know that it wasn’t something that was hazardous,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe emphasized that election workers have been trained to handle suspicious mail and other potential security threats.
“We won’t let this kind of thing be a disruption. But also know that we are very well trained and prepared for these types of things,” Wolfe said.
WEC says it has provided guidance to municipal and county clerks on safely handling suspicious mail.
The investigation comes as in-person absentee voting gets underway across Wisconsin.
Election officials say they expect more than 2.6 million voters to participate in the midterm.
