3 Arizona Democrats receive suspicious letters containing white powder
The letter to Greg Stanton was intercepted, while those sent to Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva went to outdated office addresses.
Watch: Exclusive: U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari says letter containing white powder was mailed to her office | 9 mins
Arizona U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva received suspicious letters at their offices over the weekend, according to a statement released Monday.
The FBI Phoenix Field Office and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security informed the Democratic lawmakers about the letters. The one sent to Stanton’s office was intercepted before it arrived, and the ones mailed to Ansari and Grijalva were sent to old office addresses.
Ansari told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Monday all three letters contained white powder.
“It has unfortunately become the reality. I don’t think it should be the reality but the amount of just threats of political violence have gotten so extreme,” Ansari said. “It’s been going up over the years, but I think over the last two years, it’s been especially bad. I’d be hard-pressed to find a colleague of mine who hasn’t received some sort of death threats.”
She added it is not currently known if the powder was toxic. Ansari also noted the lawmakers’ teams are receiving training.
The FBI confirmed to KTAR News that letters were sent to secretary of state offices and congressional offices nationwide, but only some contained unknown substances.
“We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters,” an FBI spokesperson said.
This also comes after the Arizona Executive Tower was evacuated on Thursday after staff in the secretary of state’s office opened an envelope filled with white powder. The powder was determined to be not toxic and the office and a mail-sorting facility were given the all-clear.
After the incident, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos he blamed politicians spreading false claims about elections for the white powder being mailed to his office.
“We will not be intimidated and we’ll keep doing the work that Arizonans elected us to do,” the lawmakers emphasized.
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Comments
1 Comments
So consider (redux, updated):
1. We're two weeks away from the election and early ballots have been mailed.
2. The suspect substances were mailed to a Democrat SoS's office.
3. The suspect substances were mailed to Democrat U.S. Representatives offices.
4. The GOP is trailing in virtually all polls in most state-wide races in AZ.
You do not have to be a Sherlock Holmes, Nick Charles (for you that are clueless about classic movies, look it up), Hercule Poirot or Detective Columbo to know from where those mailers with the suspicious substances originated.