(TStarnes) – More than 70 Kansas Republican lawmakers, including the attorney general, were sent letters filled with a suspicious white powder. There have not been any reports of Democrat lawmakers receiving letters.
“Today, KBI agents working alongside the FBI, KDHE, OSFM, Kansas National Guard, KHP, and several local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and fire departments have responded after mail was received by legislators and other public officials containing a suspicious white powder,” the agency wrote.
The letters are being collected by law enforcement and hazmat teams.
“A spokesperson for state Attorney General Kris Kobach told the outlet that his office received a letter, while a spokesperson for state House Speaker Dan Hawkins said his office did not receive a letter, but multiple members of his caucus did,” the report added.
Carrie Rahlfeldt, the communications director for the Kansas Speaker of the House, told local news station KMBC that several members of the Republican caucus received letters containing the suspicious powder.
State Sen. Molly Baumgardner told the station she received a letter.
“We’re using our finest resources and it’s being squandered because someone – or a group of people – are very deliberately trying to make a point,” Baumgardner said. “Kansas Legislators that are Republican are being targeted. There appears to be some message.”
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly’s Kansas chapter condemned the attacks.
“It’s a sad shame that our legislators are having to deal with threats like this against them and their families. It’s not uncommon for kids to check their mail at their house and could be victims of dangerous actions like this,” they wrote in a statement. “So far it has only been Republicans who have received these packages. The state of our political climate that leads to these actions are dangerous and must be denounced by all.”
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