Four letters with white powder sent to Congress members
Matthew Unglesbee faces federal charges after admitting to mailing envelopes containing salt to lawmakers, claiming the substance resembled anthrax.
By Julian Kobayashi ·
Four envelopes containing a white granular substance arrived at the offices of members of Congress, according to federal charges filed in Illinois. The letters were sent to three different lawmakers, with a fourth addressed to a member of the House.
Matthew Unglesbee is the man charged in connection with the mailings. He faces two counts: false information and hoaxes, and mailing threatening communications. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Illinois.
The FBI identified Unglesbee after an anonymous tipster contacted the bureau on Oct. 16. The informant claimed to have overheard Unglesbee discussing plans to send a suspicious substance to Congress members. The letters began arriving at congressional offices three days later, on Oct. 19.
Unglesbee spoke with FBI personnel on Sunday. He allegedly admitted to mailing the four letters after hearing about other suspicious mailings earlier in the month. He told agents that the granular substance inside the envelopes was salt. He described the material as something that "kind of looks like" anthrax, according to authorities.
The man denied having any connection to the other letters sent to Congress members and elections officials in recent weeks. The FBI is investigating those separate mailings independently. Agents found a fifth envelope at Unglesbee's residence that was empty and had not been mailed. That envelope was also addressed to a member of Congress.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., confirmed she is aware of the custody of a suspect linked to the latest letter sent to her district office in Skokie. She received a second suspicious letter on Oct. 21. Schakowsky stated in a written release that she would not let threats stop her team from serving the 9th District. She thanked law enforcement for their work on the case.
Unglesbee’s home address and name appeared on the envelopes used for the four delivered letters. The letters contained notes, with one reading "HA HA" and another stating "HAH enjoy the gift."
Source: NBC News
