The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating after several Tennessee State Republican officials received mail containing an unknown white powder.
The Cordell Hull Building, which is a state house office building that contains state legislators’ offices, was placed on lockdown after the incident, according to the Nashville Fire Department (NFD).
“Our personnel responded to a suspicious letter call at the Cordell Hull Building. They donned protective suits and air tanks to test the substance,” NFD said in a Thursday tweet. “[Tennessee Highway Patrol Nashville], [the FBI] [and the Department of Homeland Security] have personnel on the scene investigating. We have made no transports and have no reports of injuries.”
Our personnel responded to a suspicious letter call at the Cordell Hull Building. They donned protective suits and air tanks to test the substance. @THPNashville @FBI @DHSgov have personnel on the scene investigating. We have made no transports and have no reports of injuries. pic.twitter.com/D2WCEDcTig
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) June 22, 2023
“The FBI is investigating a series of suspicious letters sent to a number of public officials. Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and safely collect the letters,” the FBI said in a statement. “Laboratory testing is ongoing but at this time has not indicated a risk to public safety. Additional testing will be needed to fully identify the unknown substance in the letters.”
“Law enforcement and public safety officials are working to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters,” said the FBI. “As this is an ongoing matter, we will not be commenting further regarding our steps or methods, but the public can be assured that law enforcement will continue to keep the public’s safety as its top priority.”
The federal law enforcement agency also warned against opening what it called “suspicious” mail from “unrecognized senders.”
“The letters contained an obvious threat made by a liberal activist, specifically targeting Republicans. The sixth floor of the Cordell Hull building is on lockdown currently, while Homeland Security investigates,” said Jennifer Easton, the spokeswoman for the House Republican Caucus, who was reportedly in the building when the mail was received.
Ken Jobe, the Democratic Caucus spokesperson, quickly dismissed the powder as “an over-the-counter, perhaps, pain reliever or something like that,” despite the fact that the FBI had not yet tested it.
As of Friday afternoon, those test results are still unconfirmed.
The suspicious letters were sent amid a tumultuous few months for the Tennessee legislature, after two Democrat members of the State House were expelled from their offices for leading an anti-gun riot at the Tennessee Capitol.
The pair of lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) were later temporarily reinstated.
Both are running in special elections in attempts to be reelected to their former offices.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
