White Powder Mailings: Maryland Lawmakers Under FBI Watch

For nearly every member of Maryland’s congressional delegation and the state’s elections office, the routine arrival of mail turned into a security concern this week. Envelopes containing a mysterious white powder were delivered to their offices, prompting federal scrutiny just weeks before the November 3 vote.

The mailings are part of a wider wave of suspicious packages reaching election officials across the country. The first reports surfaced in Louisiana and Oklahoma before the pattern expanded to other states. In Maryland, the threat was not a single isolated event but a coordinated series of deliveries.

Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis confirmed his office received a suspicious letter. He stated that law enforcement intercepted the package after increasing mail screening procedures. DeMarinis said the incidents would not stop election staff from performing their duties or ensuring voters can participate safely.

On Capitol Hill, both Maryland U.S. senators confirmed they received similar mailings. At least five of the state’s eight House members also reported receiving the letters. Rep. Kweisi Mfume found a letter at his Baltimore office and asked postal inspectors to brief him on the investigation’s scope. Rep. Johnny Olszewski’s staff isolated a suspicious envelope before calling authorities. Rep. Steny Hoyer reported a delivery at his Greenbelt district office.

Rep. Andy Harris’ office said it had not received a letter. Other congressional offices either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are jointly leading the investigation.

Investigators have not identified the sender or the motive behind the mailings. While lab tests determined the white powder is nontoxic, authorities have not publicly named the specific substance. The next major milestone is the November 3 general election, for which the state is now preparing under heightened security protocols.