SALT LAKE CITY — The FBI and several other law enforcement agencies are investigating after a white substance was sent in a letter to the office of Utah Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson.
According to the FBI, the envelope containing the substance was signed "United States Traitor Elimination Army" and intercepted in Reno, Nevada.
"To see elections and election workers, election officials become the target of harassment and intimidation, and threats is incredibly disturbing," said Lt. Gov. Henderson.
The FBI said Utah is one of at least 20 states where election officials have been targeted in the last week.
"I don't believe that we've ever received a suspicious package like this in the past, there was another incident last year during the election last November where some states were targeted, Utah was not one of them at that time," said Lt. Gov. Henderson.
Officials with Utah's Democratic and Republican parties also weighed in on the incident.
Utah Republican Party Chairman Robert Axson says there is no place for violence and dangerous intimidation or threats.
"Our founding principles celebrate discourse and disagreement being protected and respected in America," said Axson. "Taking it beyond that is a disservice to all we stand for. I commend all those who are investigating threats and attacks against candidates and officials."
Diane Lewis, the Utah Democratic Party Chair says she wholeheartedly condemns the attempt to intimidate Utah's Election Workers.
“The professionals who handle our votes are integral to the democratic process, and threats made against election workers undermine the foundations of our democracy," said Lewis. "I am grateful that those at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office are safe, and that United States Postal Workers and the FBI were able to address the situation."
FOX 13 News spoke with Greg Rogers, a retired FBI Agent. He gave his theory on who is involved in this incident.
"A good portion of my undercover career I spent as a member of different militia groups and this is a militia group that's doing this or a sovereign citizen group," said Rogers.
He explained how these kinds of investigations work.
"The first priority is going to be identifying what that powder is because there's a obvious immediate concern about anybody that came in contact with it," said Rogers. "Secondly, they're going to be taking all of these envelopes that went to all the different election officials in the different states and doing a very thorough analysis of that to include DNA sampling, fingerprint sampling."
Rogers says a case like this has a very high priority.
"There are joint terrorism task forces in every major FBI office, and they are the agents that are working this case," said Rogers.
FOX 13 News also spoke with Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman on Friday.
Starting last year, Chapman says, they partnered with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office to do emergency planning and training for instances like this.
She says all staff at every place they receive mail and process ballots are provided PPE, including gloves and N95 masks. Chapman says vials of Narcan are also available.
Chapman says they plan to do another training this year ton what to do if they find a substance in an envelope, package or ballot.
Lt. Gov. Henderson's office, as well as other state agencies, say they will continue to monitor the situation and will "take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of election workers and maintain an orderly election."
Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the threat and testing the substance.
