Offices of Democratic Reps. Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto in Florida, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds in South Dakota and Democratic Rep. Jimmy Panetta in California all reported suspicious packages or envelopes on October 17.
Frost's Orlando office and Rounds' Sioux Falls office were evacuated. Frost said the package matched those reported at other offices nationwide and that the U.S. Capitol Police and Orlando Police Department had been notified. Soto's office reported receiving an envelope containing a suspicious substance; local law enforcement intercepted it after Frost's office alerted staff to monitor incoming mail. No staff members were injured, according to Soto's office.
In South Dakota, Sen. Rounds said his Sioux Falls office received suspicious mail and that staff followed safety procedures recommended by the U.S. Capitol Police. Local police responded and evacuated the office. Rounds said his office would remain closed for the rest of Friday while the investigation continued. He thanked Capitol Police for intercepting other letters and issuing a warning that helped his staff recognise the mail before opening it.
In California, Panetta reported that an envelope containing a suspicious white powder was delivered to his Santa Cruz district office and opened by a staff member on Friday morning. The employee placed the envelope in a trash can, cleared other staff from the office and called 911, according to Panetta's statement. Medical officials had initially cleared the employee and other staff members. The incident prompted the evacuation of the Santa Cruz County government building and courthouse while emergency crews responded.
The source reported that earlier in the week, Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry's office received a letter containing a white powder, prompting an evacuation. An employee who opened the letter was taken to a hospital as a precaution, but authorities later determined the substance was not harmful.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices and state election officials in multiple states. The U.S. Capitol Police has also warned congressional offices about the letters, some of which contain unknown substances.