The FBI has urged caution after letters signed “US Traitor Elimination Army” appeared across the country.
The FBI has asked US election officials to be on alert after offices in more than a dozen states received suspicious packages since Monday.
The items had been delivered to at least 15 states as of Wednesday. Some prompted evacuations or otherwise disrupted the work of local authorities. None caused injuries or were confirmed to pose a threat. Some were signed: “US Traitor Elimination Army.”
In a statement to the media, FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera said the agency is… “We are working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind them.”
The agency previously distributed a memo to election officials, urging them to “Stay alert and be careful when handling mail.”
Some of the packages were addressed to secretaries of state, who are typically the top election officials at the state level. Their professional association, NASS, expressed concern Tuesday.
“We are seeing a worrying trend continue: the second assassination attempt on a presidential candidate and threatening and intimidating actions toward election officials.” The statement said: “This must end, period. Our democracy has no place for political violence, threats or intimidation of any kind.”
On Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service foiled what it called a possible attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump, the second such incident since July. The shooter reportedly fled his sniper position on the perimeter of a golf course owned by the Republican candidate in Florida and was taken into custody.
This is the second case of suspicious mail reported in the United States since last November, when suspicious packages were sent to election offices and government buildings in at least six states. Some of them contained the narcotic substance fentanyl, investigators later determined.
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