COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose confirmed Wednesday that his office was one of 15 election offices nationwide that were affected by suspicious packages.
The FBI and the U.S Postal Inspection Service have begun investigations after multiple security threats regarding election offices occurred. According to authorities, the offices received suspicious packages believed to be carrying a white, powdery substance that was found to be non-hazardous.
LaRose's office said the package was intercepted by law enforcement before it reached its intended destination. As a result of the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine approved extra security protection for LaRose.
LaRose expressed in a press release the importance of safety for election officials.
"The security of our employees and all election officials across Ohio is a top concern as we enter a critical period in the election cycle," LaRose said. "We’ve now seen two assassination attempts directed at a presidential candidate, and the FBI is actively investigating several threats here in Ohio."
According to the Associated Press, other suspicious packages were also sent to elections officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. Mississippi authorities reported a package was delivered there Monday, and the Connecticut Secretary of State's office said the FBI alerted it of a package that was intercepted.
With the general election approaching, LaRose encouraged what he described as the calming of the country's political atmosphere.
"We need to lower the temperature of our political discourse and send a clear, bipartisan message that we resolve our elections in this country with ballots not bullets," he said in the press release.
