‘White powder’ sent to Tennessee GOP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A legislative office building in Nashville reopened Thursday after a lockdown prompted by multiple Republican leaders receiving what House Speaker Cameron Sexton called “a white powder substance” in the mail.
Hazmat teams were called to assess the situation, Sexton said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the letters contained an “unknown substance.” “Laboratory testing is ongoing but at this time has not indicated a risk to public safety,” the FBI said. “Law enforcement and public safety officials are working to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters and the motive behind the letters.”
The incident comes a few days after officials in Kansas said about 100 letters containing suspicious white powder, which preliminary tests found negative for common toxins, were sent to lawmakers at their homes and to other public officials across the state.
Authorities did not say if they believe the Tennessee and Kansas events are connected.
House Republican Caucus spokesperson Jennifer Easton said the letters “contained obvious threats made by a liberal activist specifically targeting Republicans.” She didn’t provide details.
The locked-down Cordell Hull building is in downtown Nashville and houses lawmakers and legislative staffers as well as the General Assembly’s committee hearing rooms.
The building connects to the Tennessee Capitol’s main building. While lawmakers and staffers work there all year, fewer members of the public are present now with the General Assembly out of session.
The GOP-dominated Legislature is preparing for an Aug. 21 special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is pushing to remove firearms from people judged dangerous to themselves or others after a Nashville school shooting in March that killed three children and three adults.
Tennessee’s Legislature garnered national attention this year when Republicans expelled two Democratic lawmakers for leading a gun-control protest from the House floor. They were removed from office and later reinstated.