White Powder Letters Lead to Hazmat Checks at Two Chicago Government Offices
Letters Prompt Emergency Responses
Two letters containing a white powdery substance led to emergency checks at separate government offices in downtown Chicago. One was delivered to the county building on Clark Street. The other was found at a state election office inside the county administrative building on West Washington Street.
Both incidents brought hazardous materials crews to the buildings. The powder in each case was checked, and no dangerous substance was found. No one was hurt. It is not known whether the two letters are connected.
First Letter Is Quickly Contained
The first letter was addressed to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The person who opened it placed it inside a small plastic bag, helping contain the material while emergency crews were called.
The envelope’s postmark appeared to show that it had been mailed from a post office in Carol Stream, a suburb near Chicago. That detail has not established who sent the letter.
Hazmat workers arrived with equipment to examine the powder. Their tests showed that it was baking powder, not a harmful substance. The finding was made about 45 minutes after crews began checking it.
Election Office Is Briefly Evacuated
A second envelope was found at the Chicago office of the Illinois State Board of Elections, which is located inside the Cook County Administrative Building. The envelope was believed to contain an unknown white powder.
The office was briefly evacuated while the substance was examined. Police and fire department hazmat workers inspected the letter. Their check found no hazardous material. The letter was then taken into federal custody to be recorded and handled as part of the investigation.
The two locations are separate government offices, but both incidents involved envelopes with a white powdery substance. Investigators have not said whether the cases are related.
Investigation Looks Beyond Chicago
Federal investigators and postal inspectors are examining a wider series of suspicious mailings sent to addresses across the country. The mailings include offices connected to state governments and elections. Some of the letters have contained an unknown substance.
More than 100 letters that appear to contain white powder are believed to be moving through the U.S. mail system. Investigators are working with law enforcement partners to respond to reports, determine what the substances are, and identify the person or people who sent the letters.
Suspicious packages can arrive at political offices during election periods, and they can affect offices from either major political party. Each package still needs to be treated carefully until it has been checked.
What Happens Next
The investigation remains open. Authorities are working to learn who sent the letters and whether the Chicago incidents are part of the broader pattern. They are also taking steps to protect election-related offices around the country.
- Two Chicago government offices received suspicious letters containing white powder.
- Hazmat checks found no dangerous substance in either incident.
- The election office was briefly evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
- Investigators are examining more than 100 suspected powder-containing letters nationwide.
- It remains unknown whether the two Chicago cases are connected.