Suspicious Envelope Targeting Maryland Elections Board Intercepted, DeMarinis Says

ANNAPOLIS — A suspicious envelope addressed to the Maryland State Board of Elections was intercepted by law enforcement before it was delivered, the state’s elections administrator said, as federal authorities investigate similar mailings sent to election offices and lawmakers across the country.

“@md_sbe was a targeted agency for a suspicious envelope. It was intercepted prior to delivery,” State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said in a post on X. “This madness needs to stop.”

DeMarinis said the mailings are an effort to “harass and intimidate” election officials, according to the Associated Press. “They’re not going to deter me from doing my job in administering this election,” he said.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating “a series of suspicious mailings” sent to addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and related election offices, the FBI said in a statement.

“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the FBI said. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”

The mailings have also reached the offices of at least five Democratic U.S. senators, most of them intercepted, and U.S. Capitol Police are also involved in the investigation, according to the Associated Press. More than 100 letters went to people and groups nationwide, officials were told, according to Votebeat.

Maryland’s senators were not among those targeted. Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s office said the senator is aware of the incidents and monitoring the situation, and Rep. Johnny Olszewski said his office was not targeted, according to CBS Baltimore. “Threats and acts of political violence are never acceptable,” Olszewski said.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement condemning the incidents and stressing the need to protect election workers, noting that election offices work closely with law enforcement and have contingency plans for threats and emergencies.

The interception comes as Maryland election officials prepare for early voting and the Nov. 3 general election.

Also Read: Suspicious Letters Reach California Congressional Offices