FBI: Suspicious letters to Kansas officials pose no risk amid search for source, motive
Letters containing a suspicious white powder sent to dozens of Kansas legislators and officials don’t pose a risk to public safety, the FBI said Tuesday as law enforcement agencies continue to search for the source and motive behind the threatening messages.
Authorities have identified more than 100 letters since they began arriving in mailboxes on Friday and Saturday. The recipients identified publicly so far have been Republican state lawmakers and Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.
While lab tests have shown no risk to public safety at the current time, more tests “will be needed to fully characterize the material in the letters,” the FBI said in a statement. Law enforcement officials are working to determine how many letters were sent, “the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters.”
At least some of the letters were in envelopes with the names of transgender individuals who were killed or are prominent on the return address field, according to interviews with legislators and images posted online. The return addresses on the envelopes were in some instances churches in the area of the recipient, which some legislators suggested made them more likely to open the mail.
“Time and effort was put into this,” said state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican who received a letter at her home.
Baumgardner said the ordeal has taken a toll on the spouses and children of lawmakers. For at least some recipients, the letters triggered hazmat responses, upending their lives for several hours.
“I think it does give individuals pause simply because whatever individual or group decided to pursue this, the intention was to be threatening,” Baumgardner said. “The intention was to create a threat.”
Lawmakers have been reluctant to speculate about possible motives, citing the ongoing investigation. The FBI didn’t suggest a motive on Tuesday, and previous statements by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation have also not mentioned any potential motivation.
The Republican-controlled Legislature this spring approved a ban on trans athletes competing in girls and women’s sports, and also passed Senate Bill 180, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” which requires trans individuals to use restrooms and other public accommodations based on their sex at birth but includes no enforcement mechanism. GOP lawmakers in numerous states have passed restrictions on trans athletes, but SB 180 was the first of its kind passed in the U.S.
On Friday, the Kansas Democratic Party’s LGBTQ+ and Progressive caucuses, as well as Kansas Young Democrats, issued a joint statement condemning the letters, saying “this behavior is unacceptable and is horrific.”
ABC News, citing federal law enforcement sources, reported Monday that the list of intended recipients has expanded beyond Kansas. Similar letters were addressed to former President Donald Trump, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and other high-profile individuals, ABC reported, but were intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service before arrival.
Kansas House and Senate Republican leaders in a joint statement Monday praised the response of law enforcement and public safety officials. The GOP leaders, who include House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson among others, struck a resolute tone.
“While we don’t yet know who is behind this threat, our members will not be intimidated by extremists who look to undermine the will of the people we were elected to serve. We appreciate all of the prayers and support we’ve received from our Kansas communities and will continue to stand strong together to move forward,” the statement said.
Several envelopes bear a Kansas City postmark. State Rep. Ken Rahjes, an Agra Republican who got a letter, said typically his mail has a Wichita postmark.
Rahjes said he’s always been transparent and accessible, noting his cell phone number is easy to find. The legislative session had ended several weeks earlier, and he opened the letter.
“We’re like the people we represent,” Rahjes said. “We have families, we have lives outside the session.”
The Star’s Matti Gellman contributed reporting
This story was originally published June 20, 2023 at 12:41 PM with the headline "FBI: Suspicious letters to Kansas officials pose no risk amid search for source, motive."
