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4 Chicago area congressional offices receive suspicious letters amid wave of preelection threats
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The offices of four Democratic state representatives each received suspicious letters Friday.
Reps. Brad Schneider, Mike Quigley, Robin Kelly and Jan Schakowsky reported being sent the letters in a broader wave of threatening packages mailed to congressional and state election offices nationwide ahead of Election Day in November.
The reports come as similar suspicious mail has been sent to election officials and representatives in several states, including Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma, NPR reported.
Schneider’s office, which is located in Linconshire, contacted Lincolnshire and U.S. Capitol police after receiving the suspicious letter. It was ultimately deemed to not contain harmful substances by law enforcement.
Quigley’s office at 1925 N. Clybourn Ave. was also evacuated as a precaution Friday when a suspicious letter arrived there. Schakowsky’s Skokie office didn’t open the letter after warnings from the House sergeant-at-arms.
Schneider said the FBI is looking into the rash of threatening letters. The bureau didn’t immediately respond to a request for details on the investigation.
“It is imperative that [the FBI] follow all leads to apprehend and prosecute those responsible,” Schneider said in a statement. “Anyone or any group who thinks they can scare or intimidate Members of Congress or our teams from doing our job and work on behalf of the people we represent is sorely mistaken.”
Kelly said her team immediately contacted the U.S. Capitol Police, which she said is also investigating the incident. The police force didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Illinois State Board of Elections evacuated its offices Thursday when it received a suspicious letter, which was taken as part of the investigation by the FBI. A similar suspicious envelope containing baking powder was delivered to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ downtown office at 118 N. Clark St. also on Thursday.
“Political violence has no place in a democracy, and efforts to scare or intimidate the public in the lead-up to an election must be resoundingly condemned,” Quigley said in a statement. “I hope that the perpetrator is swiftly brought to justice.”