Congressmen Brad Schneider and Mike Quigley each received suspicious letters at their offices Friday — apparently part of a broader wave of letters mailed to congressional and state election offices nationwide weeks ahead of the November midterm elections.
Schneider’s office, which is located in Linconshire, contacted Lincolnshire and U.S. Capitol police after receiving the suspicious letter. It was ultimately deemed to not contain harmful substances by law enforcement.
Schneider said the FBI is looking into the rash of threatening letters. The bureau didn’t immediately respond to a request for details on the investigation.
“It is imperative that [the FBI] follow all leads to apprehend and prosecute those responsible,” Schneider said in a statement. “Anyone or any group who thinks they can scare or intimidate Members of Congress or our teams from doing our job and work on behalf of the people we represent is sorely mistaken.”
The Illinois State Board of Elections evacuated its offices Thursday when it received a suspicious letter, which was taken as part of the investigation by the FBI. A similar suspicious envelope containing baking powder was delivered to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ downtown office at 118 N. Clark St. also on Thursday.
Quigley’s office at 1925 N. Clybourn Ave. was also evacuated as a precaution Friday when a suspicious letter arrived there.
“Political violence has no place in a democracy, and efforts to scare or intimidate the public in the lead-up to an election must be resoundingly condemned,” Quigley said in a statement. “I hope that the perpetrator is swiftly brought to justice.”
