Oklahoma – “Like many others, one of my offices was recently sent an envelope containing suspicious substances,” Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said on X, revealing that law enforcement intercepted the envelope before anyone was potentially put at risk.
Lankford said those responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, adding that any attempt to intimidate him or discourage him from using the mail to communicate with Oklahomans had failed.
“I’m very grateful that law enforcement intercepted it before anyone was potentially put at risk,” Lankford wrote in his October 17 post.
“If this was an attempt to intimidate or cause me to no longer use the mail as a way to stay connected with Oklahomans, it has definitely failed,” he added.
The Oklahoma Republican’s statement comes as federal authorities investigate a series of suspicious mailings sent to congressional offices and election officials in multiple states. Several of the envelopes reportedly contained an unknown or powdery substance, prompting security concerns and investigations involving federal law enforcement agencies.
According to KOCO News 5, Lankford said the suspicious letter intended for one of his offices was intercepted before it could put anyone at risk. The senator expressed gratitude to law enforcement and made clear that the incident would not prevent him from continuing to use the mail to stay connected with constituents.
The incident is part of a broader series of suspicious mailings that has drawn the attention of the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
NPR’s Oklahoma affiliate, KGOU, reported that federal authorities were investigating suspicious mail sent to election officials and congressional offices across the country. Some of the mailings contained a powdery white substance, while investigators worked to determine who was responsible.
The FBI confirmed that it was investigating suspicious mailings sent to addresses nationwide, including state secretary of state offices and related election offices. The agency said it was working with law enforcement partners to respond to the incidents and identify the individuals responsible.
The mailings have affected offices in several states, including Oklahoma, where election officials also faced incidents involving suspicious envelopes. Authorities have not publicly established that all the incidents were connected to a single sender.
The Associated Press also reported that federal authorities were investigating suspicious letters containing unknown substances sent to congressional and election offices. The investigation involved the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police, with officials urging congressional offices to exercise caution when handling suspicious mail.
A report published by The Washington Post likewise described a nationwide investigation into suspicious mailings, including envelopes containing unknown substances sent to government and election-related offices. Authorities were working to identify those responsible as the incidents raised concerns about the safety of public officials and election workers, according to the Washington Post..
Officials have not publicly confirmed that the suspicious substance sent to Lankford’s office was hazardous. Nor has the senator’s public statement identified a suspect or provided details about the substance or the circumstances surrounding the mailing.
Lankford, who represents Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate, said the incident would not stop him from maintaining contact with the people he represents. His statement also called for criminal accountability for those responsible, emphasizing that the incident should not deter elected officials from carrying out their duties.
Federal investigations into the broader series of suspicious mailings remain ongoing, and authorities are working to determine who sent the envelopes and whether the incidents are connected.
Sen. Lankford releases statement after suspicious envelope sent to his office, says attempt to intimidate him or stop him from using the mail to stay connected with Oklahomans “has definitely failed”
