Suspicious Letter Addressed To Obama Intercepted

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The U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday said that a letter containing “a suspicious substance” was intercepted on Tuesday at the White House’s offsite mail screening facility. 

“This facility routinely identifies letters or parcels that require secondary screening or scientific testing before delivery,” the Secret Service said in a written statement. 

A day earlier, a letter addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) was intercepted at an offsite mail facility for the U.S. Capitol and tested positive for ricin. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on Tuesday said police have a suspect in mind in the case. That letter originated in Tennessee, according to the Associated Press, and it remains under examination as initial field tests can be unreliable.

Below is the Secret Service’s full statement on the letter address to Obama:

 

–          On 4-16-13, a letter addressed to the President containing a suspicious substance was received at the remote White House mail screening facility. This facility routinely identifies letters or parcels that require secondary screening or scientific testing before delivery.

 

–          The Secret Service White House mail screening facility is a remote facility, not located near the White House complex,  that all White House mail goes through.

 

–          The Secret Service is working closely with the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI in this investigation.

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