The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating a suspicious package sent to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, leading to a lengthy evacuation on Friday.
This incident is part of a broader trend of suspicious packages being sent to election officials across more than 15 states earlier this month.
The Minnesota office in St. Paul was evacuated around noon, with lockdown measures remaining in place for several hours, according to spokesperson Cassondra Knudson.
The package was addressed to the office, featuring a return address from the “United States Traitor Elimination Army,” which matches a similar package sent to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office earlier this month.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stated that his office would collaborate with law enforcement to identify and hold accountable the sender of the package.
Simon condemned the threats against election officials, emphasizing the need for public servants to work without fear, intimidation, or harassment. He reaffirmed the commitment to ensuring the integrity of upcoming elections, stating, “This action is not deterring our work or determination to deliver another election that is free, fair, accurate, and secure.”
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or hazardous materials linked to the packages sent to Minnesota and other states, which also included Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, Mississippi, and Connecticut. The FBI noted that the earlier packages contained “an unknown substance” but did not provide additional details.
This latest incident coincides with the start of early voting in several states as the nation approaches critical elections for president, U.S. Senate, Congress, and state offices. In response to the threats, local election officials are enhancing security measures to protect workers and ensure the integrity of the voting process.
The National Association of Secretaries of State condemned the rising trend of threats against election workers as the November 5 elections approach, alongside the second apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
