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Reps. Al Green of Texas and Bobby Scott of Virginia are among the Democratic lawmakers who have dealt with suspicious mail containing unknown substances as federal authorities investigate similar incidents reported across the country.
“This is intolerable. We won't tolerate it, and we won't also be intimidated,” Green said during a Monday (October 19) press conference addressing a letter sent to his Houston office.
According to KHOU, an employee discovered the envelope Friday (October 16) at a federal building in downtown Houston. It was addressed to Green and appeared to have been mailed from San Antonio on October 13.
An employee discovered the substance after opening the envelope, prompting a response from local and federal authorities. Officials have not identified the substance.
In a press release ahead of the press conference, Green emphasized the importance of protecting congressional staff and constituents.
“Political threats and acts of intimidation have no place in our democracy,” Green said. He thanked local and federal authorities for their response and concluded, “I remain unbought, unbossed, and unintimidated.”
Scott, in a social media post, said the FBI contacted his office Saturday (October 17) to report that it intercepted mail containing a suspicious substance addressed to his district office.
“Threats and attempts at intimidation are unacceptable and must not be tolerated,” Scott wrote on social media.
The Associated Press reported that federal authorities are investigating suspicious mailings sent to congressional and election offices nationwide.
The offices of Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Alex Padilla of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York were among those affected by suspicious mail incidents.
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating the mailings, according to the AP. Authorities have not established whether the incidents involving Green and Scott are connected or identified a motive.
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