Ocasio-Cortez, Garcia latest Democrats to report receiving suspicious letter

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) are the latest among several officials across the country who have reported receiving suspicious packages at their offices ahead of the midterm elections.

Ocasio-Cortez released a statement Tuesday evening saying a suspicious letter was delivered to her district office in Hunts Point, N.Y. The letter is being investigated by the New York City Police Department and federal authorities, including the U.S. Capitol Police and FBI.

“This string of suspicious mailings started two weeks before a consequential midterm election and is seemingly intended to intimidate public servants and sow further division,” Ocasio-Cortez said in the statement.

“Political violence has no place in our country,” she added.

Garcia’s office also received what appeared to be a similar letter Tuesday, the congressman said in a statement.

“The letter was intercepted, necessary safety precautions were taken, and no one in our office was harmed,” Garcia said in his statement. “We’re thankful to the Long Beach Police and Fire Departments, and the Sheriff’s Department for their swift response and continued support in keeping our community safe.”

The Guardian reported Monday that more than three dozen members of Congress had suspicious letters or mails sent to their offices. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that there are over 100 letters circulating in the U.S. mail system that apparently contain white powder.

Last week, multiple election officials reported similar incidents of suspicious packages being sent to their offices. This includes Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who said the U.S. Postal Service investigators blocked the delivery of a letter containing a “powdery white substance” to his office.

The FBI told The Hill that the agency and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating suspicious mailings nationwide.

“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the agency spokesperson said in a statement.

“We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters,” the spokesperson added.