FBI nabs suspect accused of sending hundreds of white powder letters to public officials: source

FIRST ON FOX: The FBI arrested an Oklahoma City man early Monday suspected of sending hundreds of letters containing suspicious white powder to public officials across the country during the 2024 and 2026 election cycles, a federal law enforcement source told Fox News Digital. Robin Patrick Martin is charged with conveying false or misleading information and hoaxes and mailing threatening communications, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Oklahoma. Federal investigators linked more than 700 suspicious mailings sent in 2026 to the same sender, according to the complaint. The letters were addressed to state election boards, Republican, Democratic and independent members of Congress, pollsters, media organizations and the FBI. The FBI's Oklahoma City field office, FBI Criminal Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Capitol Police and Oklahoma City Police Department participated in the investigation, the federal law enforcement source said. FBI PROBES SUSPICIOUS WHITE POWDER LETTERS SENT TO SCHUMER, DEM SENATORS AS THREAT SPREADS NATIONWIDE The complaint alleges the mailings date back to September 2024, when state election officials began reporting letters containing a white powdery substance. Investigators identified similar mailings addressed to election officials in all 50 states, 49 of which were either recovered from recipients or intercepted in the mail stream. The initial 2024 mailings contained white powder and a three-page letter titled "DECLARATION OF WAR." The writer threatened that if certain demands were not met, another mailing would be sent to "1000's of destinations" and "it won't be flour next time," according to the complaint. "The writer of the letter described perceived issues with the 2020 election, claimed that President Donald Trump won the 2020 election, and voiced concerns regarding some of the same issues recurring in the then-upcoming 2024 election," the complaint states. ILLINOIS MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING CONGRESS WITH WHITE SUBSTANCES IN LETTERS MARKED WITH HIS RETURN ADDRESS Testing found the powders examined so far were nonhazardous substances, including yeast or flour, though not every letter has been fully tested, according to the FBI. Investigators said some letters contained hidden messages visible under ultraviolet light. One warned recipients to remain on the "right side of history" and suggested their lives could depend on it. Some mailings listed "U.S.T.E.A.," described as the "United States Traitor Elimination Army," as the sender and gave a return address in Takoma Park, Maryland, according to the complaint. The FBI said surveillance footage showed a vehicle associated with Martin stopping at Postal Service mailboxes in Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio in October. Investigators also said Martin's fingerprints were found on a letter sent to FBI Director Kash Patel. Authorities further linked Martin to Walmart purchases of turmeric and vinegar, items investigators said could be used to create writing visible under ultraviolet light. The arrest follows a nationwide investigation into suspicious mail sent to congressional and election offices ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. JUDGE TOSSES CASE AGAINST EX-FBI OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF LYING TO CONGRESS ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATION The FBI said last month it was working with USPIS to investigate "a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices," The Associated Press reported last month. Authorities warned recipients to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous" while investigators worked to intercept additional letters before they reached their destinations. The FBI said in an Oct. 23 advisory that no hazardous material had been identified in the suspicious substances tested at that point, though laboratory testing remained ongoing. Several Senate offices reported receiving or being sent suspicious mail. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP The Associated Press contributed to this report.