The FBI and the New York Police Department are investigating a suspicious letter sent to a Latina ally of Mamdani.

The FBI and the New York Police Department are investigating a suspicious letter sent to a Latin ally of Mamdani Federal authorities investigate multiple shipments to offices of members of the US Congress - 4 minutes reading time A suspicious letter received at a district office of Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in the Hunts Point neighborhood, triggered an investigation by the New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The incident involving Zohran Mamdani's ally occurred amid a series of mailings directed to legislators and electoral offices across the United States, some of which contained a white powder of unknown origin. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reported the sending of a suspicious letter Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman for New York's 14th district, informed on Tuesday, October 20th, that her district office, located in Hunts Point, received a suspicious letter. The shipment was under investigation by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and federal authorities, including the Capitol Police of the US and the FBI. According to the statement released by the representative's office, the envelope had characteristics similar to other shipments received by dozens of elected officials in different parts of the country. The Democratic congresswoman thanked the swift intervention of the security forces and highlighted the importance of protecting those who work in her office. The representative also linked the succession of episodes to the political climate preceding the midterm legislative elections, scheduled for November 3rd. In her view, these shipments could be intended to intimidate public servants and deepen political divisions. In her statement, Ocasio-Cortez said: "Political violence does not take place in our country. It is always unacceptable and we must all refuse to normalize an unsafe and volatile political environment in which ordinary people are exposed to risks." The FBI investigates various Congressional offices that received letters The investigation involving Ocasio-Cortez's office is part of a broader operation to clarify the sending of suspicious envelopes to US public officials. According to ABC News, more than 35 members of Congress reported that their offices were the target of correspondence containing a white powder. One of the most recent incidents mentioned was that of Democratic Representative Virginia Suhas Subramanyam, whose district office in Leesburg was evacuated on Monday after receiving an envelope with a suspicious substance. According to the information published by the outlet, preliminary tests conducted on the powder received at Subramanyam's office indicated that it was not dangerous. Police sources indicated that more than 100 letters suspected of containing white powder were circulating through the US postal system. Letters to congressmen: arrived at offices of different political parties According to ABC News, officials and legislators from both parties reported similar incidents, which expanded the scope of the investigations and led authorities to examine correspondence intended for different public agencies. Among the Democratic senators mentioned in the report are Chuck Schumer, the minority leader in the Senate, and Alex Padilla, a senator from California. In both cases, authorities intercepted letters addressed to them. It was also reported that the team of Democratic Senator Chris Murphy received a warning from the FBI, the Senate's security officer, and Capitol Police about the existence of a suspicious letter. On the Republican side, the outlet noted that incidents related to offices of legislators in South Dakota, Texas, and Nebraska were recorded. Among the mentioned senators are Mike Rounds, whose office in Sioux Falls was evacuated, Pete Ricketts, and Ted Cruz. In the House of Representatives, incidents involving Democratic legislators from New York were also recorded. At least ten people were exposed to a white powder substance sent to the offices of Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Tom Suozzi. Furthermore, in California, Representative Jimmy Panetta reported that a member of his team opened an envelope in the Santa Cruz office. After warning of the situation, the staff evacuated the room and called 911.