Adrian Fontes blames politicians spreading election lies for white powder scare at capitol

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on Friday blamed politicians who spread false claims about elections for the white powder mailed to his office a day earlier.

He said the scare would not slow his staff down before the Nov. 3 election.

Tests found the substance was not toxic. The Arizona Executive Tower was evacuated Thursday afternoon after staff in the secretary of state’s office opened an envelope filled with powder.

“Whatever they were trying to achieve, all they did was show the world how well prepared we are for these types of events,” Fontes said Friday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos.

Two staffers quarantined after white powder scare back at work Friday

The two staff members who opened the mail were described by Fontes as a senior leader in his administration and a member of the National Guard. They were quarantined for a few hours before being cleared.

Both were back at work Friday, Fontes said.

Fontes, a Democrat running for reelection, emphasized elected officials who keep pushing false claims of election fraud are fueling threats against election workers.

“They keep lying, and they’re the ones who are ginning up this kind of activity,” he said. “They’re the ones that are to blame for this in my view.”

Asked whether his Republican opponent, state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, had reached out, Fontes said, “His silence says so much more than I could.”

He said Kolodin is among the politicians he was criticizing, “but he ain’t the only one, I’ll tell you that.”

Kolodin’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating similar mailings sent to election offices across the country.

Fontes urged Arizonans of every party to respond by voting.

“This kind of intimidation should be answered with participation,” he said. “You should vote.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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