FBI, USPIS Investigating ‘Suspicious Package’ Sent to State Election Office

A “suspicious package” addressed to the Tennessee Division of Elections office was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as part of a larger investigation into multiple nationwide mailings, some of which contained “an unknown substance.”

On Thursday afternoon, Tennessee Secretary of State of State Tre Hargett acknowledged that a “suspicious package” was sent but “never reached its intended destination.”

A Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesperson tells Scene sister publication the Nashville Post that it, along with the USPIS, is “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," says the spokesperson. "We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters."

The FBI would not release further details about the scope of the investigation, but news reports from across the country tie the investigation to numerous states including Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.

NBC News reports that “dozens” of letters were sent, including some to Democratic Party senators. 

“The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens,” the FBI spokesperson tells the Post.

The secretary of state’s office did not immediately return a request for additional comment. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement.

"As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy," reads the statement. "Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties. Safe and secure elections are a shared responsibility. All Americans play a role in supporting the dedicated public servants who administer our elections and ensuring voters can participate safely and confidently.”

This is not the first time suspicious packages have been mailed ahead of elections. Ahead of the November 2023 election, packages containing fentanyl were sent to state election offices. No one appears to have been charged or arrested in that case.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.