Multiple Southern California lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, said they received suspicious letters this week.
Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
Rep. Linda Sánchez, who represents communities in Orange and Los Angeles counties, said a “suspicious package” was received at her district office in Whittier on Friday, Oct. 16. She said it matched the description of other packages received by other congressional offices around the country.
“We immediately notified the U.S. Capitol Police, the FBI and local authorities, who are working together now to remove the package,” Sánchez said. “My staff and I are safe, and there does not appear to be any broader threat to our community at this time. We are working closely with law enforcement and will share updates when appropriate. Our office will also resume regular hours of operation as soon as possible.”
Earlier this week, Padilla said the Postal Service intercepted a suspicious package before it reached his office. He said the incidents have been a “stark reminder of the very real dangers facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections in the face of increasingly hostile political rhetoric.”
“We must remain vigilant as we head further into the midterm elections and invest in a strong, well-funded Postal Service that has the resources to protect its workers, safeguard the mail, and reliably serve the American people,” Padilla said.
Reps. Gil Cisneros, D-Covina, and Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, also said they had received similar mailings.
Friedman said the envelope received by her office contained “a suspicious substance.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, and under guidance from law enforcement, we evacuated,” she said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We will continue our work serving constituents and will be back in the office when responders tell us it is safe to return.”
“I am grateful to Burbank and Glendale first responders for keeping everyone safe. Threats against lawmakers and the people who work for them have no place in this country,” she added.
Cisneros, on social media, shared a photo of a white envelope, saying it appeared similar to the ones sent to other offices that contained the unknown powdery substance.
“To follow precautions, our office contacted Covina PD, FBI, and the United States Capitol Police,” Cisneros said. “Our staff is safe. Out of an abundance of caution, our Covina district office is closed and will resume normal office hours as soon as we are cleared.”
An FBI statement said the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service were “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.”
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the statement said. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, too, received one of the suspicious mailings to her district office, a spokesperson confirmed Friday evening. As did Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine.
Other lawmakers across the country who received suspicious mailings this week included Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, to name just a few.
Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who represents a district in the northern part of California, also said he received such mail.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.