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U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier received a suspicious envelope at his Walnut Creek office Friday afternoon, adding to a string of similar reports at other congressional district offices in the Bay Area and across the nation.
DeSaulnier is a Democrat who represents California’s 10th Congressional District, which covers most of Contra Costa County and some parts of Alameda County including the San Ramon Valley and parts of Dublin.
He said in a statement that on Friday, a member of his team found a letter at his office matching the description and return address of other identical envelopes received at congressional district offices nationwide, envelopes that contained threatening letters and a white powdery substance.
DeSaulnier said the team member immediately secured the envelope without opening it and called local law enforcement and U.S. Capitol Police.
Multiple law enforcement and first responder agencies were still at the scene investigating into the night Friday, including several fire engines and responding units for hazardous materials, a spokesperson with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District confirmed.
Information on whether the envelope contained hazardous materials was not immediately available.
DeSaulnier denounced the attempt to threaten his office.
“Threats and political violence seem to have reached a fever pitch in our country,” he said. “I urge my fellow Americans to stand united against such attempts at undermining our democracy.”
He is running for reelection this November against Republican Jeff Frese. DeSaulnier said the threat won’t disrupt his work.
“We remain committed to serving CA-10 residents and will not be deterred from this important work by threats,” he said. “My priority remains the safety and security of my team, and I am thankful for the quick and decisive response.”
The finding follows similar discoveries at Congressional district offices around the country, including a few others in the Bay Area on Friday.
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat who represents California’s 19th Congressional District that covers parts of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, said in a statement that a staffer at his Santa Cruz office discovered an envelope containing a white powdery substance.
The nature of the powder was not immediately confirmed by Panetta’s office, but he said the staff at his office “have been initially cleared by medical officials.”
U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat who represents California’s 18th Congressional District covering the South Bay and parts of the central coast, also got a suspicious envelope at her office in San Jose Friday.
“My San Jose office received a suspicious letter through the mail today,” she said in a statement on social media. “Law enforcement was immediately called. The investigation is ongoing. All of my staffers are safe. I will have more to say after the investigation is complete.”
Like DeSaulnier, Lofgren and Panetta are also both running for reelection in November.
The long list of affected legislators included senators as well, including Republicans Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), according to the New York Times.
– Story by Alise Maripuu, Bay City News Service
