Federal authorities on Thursday were investigating suspicious envelopes containing fentanyl that were sent to election offices in Washington state and Georgia on Tuesday while workers were processing ballots.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating, but had no further comment.
Workers discovered the powder inside envelopes across several counties in Washington, including King County, where Seatle is located.
In Georgia the discovery was made in Fulton County—where former President Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants are being prosecuted for their alleged roles in attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results in that state.
The substance in the envelopes has field-tested positive for fentanyl. No injuries have been reported.
Washington state’s Secretary of State Steve Hobbs called the incidents “acts of domestic terrorism to threaten our elections,” adding that they “underscore the critical need for stronger protections for all election workers.”
Tacoma, Washington police spokesperson William Muse told reporters that a message inside the envelope sent to the Pierce County elections office said “something to the effect of stopping the election.”
“There was no candidate that was identified,” Muse added. “There was no religious affiliated group identified. There was no political issue identified. It was just that vague statement.”
Election officials in King County said the incident did cause workers to pause in counting ballots amid this Tuesday’s election, which consisted local and county races and measures in Washington state, though counting resumed by 3pm ET.
Fentanyl1 PHOTO: DEA file of fentanyl mixed with mannitol
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