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Juneau hazmat team intercepts suspicious envelope addressed to state Division of Elections
Numerous envelopes with suspicious substances are being mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide, according to FBI
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
A suspicious envelope addressed to the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau was intercepted by a hazardous materials response team and turned over to the FBI on Saturday, in what is believed to be part of a large number of mailings to congressional and election officials nationwide, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue Chief Tom Hatley.
The FBI notified CCFR on Friday the envelope was expected to arrive in Juneau on Saturday, and at about 9 a.m. Saturday the fire department was notified by U.S. Postal Service officials at the downtown Juneau facility it had arrived, Hatley said in an interview. CCFR Hazardous Materials Team responded and retrieved the envelope.
"At this time, the contents of the envelope have not been confirmed. Our response is being conducted out of an abundance of caution," CCFR stated in a post on its Facebook page at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Juneau Police Department officials blocked the street outside the delivery entrance to the postal facility at the federal building on Glacier Avenue during the hazmat team’s response.
The Associated Press on Friday reported federal officials are investigating letters with suspicious substances mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” a statement by the FBI notes. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
A similar threat occurred in 2023 when election offices in six states received mailings that contained a white powder, according to the Associated Press. Another series of mailings, including to Alaska, occurred in 2024.
Saturday morning’s response by CCFR occurred shortly before and a few blocks away from a "No Kings" protest whose organizers were urging people to vote early in the Nov. 3 midterm elections due to concerns that include questions about handling of mailed ballots. Early voting in Alaska begins Monday.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
