CRIME
Suspicious Letters Sent To Election Offices Nationwide Test Positive For Fentanyl
KOMO News
A rash of suspicious mail, some testing positive for fentanyl, has been sent to elections offices in at least three states, officials said.
In Washington state on Wednesday, four county elections offices were evacuated Wednesday after receiving envelopes filled with suspicious powders, at least two of which field-tested positive for the opioid fentanyl.
The incidents in King, Pierce, Skagit, and Spokane counties took place while election workers processed ballots from the Nov. 7 General Election, according to a statement from Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.
Renton Police said items received in King County tested positive for fentanyl, while the Spokane Police Department reported items sent to the Spokane office tested positive for fentanyl.
Before that, during the state’s Aug. 1 primary election, officials in King and Okanogan counties received suspicious envelopes. They were turned over to the United States Postal Inspection Service, which found trace amounts of fentanyl on the King County items, while the items from Okanogan County was deemed unharmful.
“The safety of staff and observers is paramount as elections workers across the state open envelopes and count each voters ballot,” Hobbs said. “These incidents underscore the critical need for stronger protections for all election workers. Democracy rests upon free and fair elections. These incidents are acts of terrorism to threaten our elections.”
Officials also reported suspicious letters targeted election workers in Oregon and Georgia. Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, was also targeted.
Fulton County is prosecuting Donald Trump and 18 others on charges related to attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state, including actions taken against local election workers.
Local law enforcement agencies in affected locations have said they are working with the FBI, along with the USPIS.
TMX contributed to this article.
