Illinois man charged over white powder letters to Congress

What BBN said about it

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAn Illinois man is charged with two felonies after allegedly mailing letters containing an unknown white powder to members of Congress, according to a criminal complaint.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorProsecutors name him as one person in Quincy.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe letters were postmarked in Springfield on October nineteenth and reached district offices between October twenty-first and twenty-third.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOkay, what was in them? Because that's what every member of Congress and every mail room worker wants to know.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorOne person allegedly told the FBI it was salt, and that he sent the letters as a joke.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorInvestigators say he put his real name and mailing address on the letters, and it matched his government records address.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHis real address.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe first three notes read HA HA. The fourth reads, quote, HAH enjoy the gift.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Epoch Times reports a search of his home turned up a fifth envelope, unmailed, addressed to one congressperson's Washington office.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo how did the FBI find him? Was there a big manhunt?

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAn anonymous online tipster says they overheard him at a restaurant talking about mailing suspicious substances to Congress, Fox News reports.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe told agents he acted after hearing of other white powder mailed to officials, and denied any role in those.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSimilar mailings have hit election offices across the country this month, ahead of the November midterms.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe is charged with mailing threatening communications and mailing false information and hoaxes. What to watch is whether any link to those other mailings emerges.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorDetectives usually need a clue. This one came with a return address and a laugh track.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe notes got shorter as he went. By the fourth letter, even the joke was cutting corners, though the return address was not.