Maria Pappas office receives envelope with baking powder, not threat

On 15 October, a routine delivery to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ downtown office turned into a city‑wide scare. An envelope containing white powder was found inside the building, prompting a red‑alert response from Chicago firefighters and police that lasted 45 minutes. When the package was opened, the substance turned out to be baking powder. The incident has become the latest chapter in a national investigation of suspicious mailings that have rattled congressional and election offices across the United States.

The envelope was discovered by a mailroom employee on the first floor of 118 N. Clark St. He immediately put it inside a plastic bag and brought it upstairs. The building was placed on a “level I hazardous materials alarm” at 10:25 a.m., and the area was evacuated until the powder was confirmed harmless. Pappas later described the moment as “frightening” and noted that the entire office went on red alert.

Media additions

According to the Chicago Sun‑Times, the substance was identified as baking powder, a common kitchen ingredient. Pappas praised the mailroom worker for “not being a dummy” and said he deserved a raise. The incident was not immediately linked to the broader investigation, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) did respond to an incident “in the City Hall vicinity” that day, according to a spokesperson for the Chicago field office. The FBI’s statement reiterates that it is “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices,” and that it is working with partners to identify the sender(s).

The Pappas envelope is part of a pattern that has emerged over the past week. Election officials in Louisiana and Oklahoma have already evacuated offices after discovering unknown white powders in packages. In Ohio, the Postal Service intercepted a similar envelope intended for the secretary of state’s office. Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota officials reported that their election offices were also targeted, but the letters were intercepted by the Postal Service before reaching the buildings.

Federal agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Capitol Police, are coordinating to intercept any further mailings. The Senate Sergeant at Arms issued a notice to Senate staff, warning that “some letters may reach their destinations” and urging recipients to treat suspicious packages as potentially hazardous. The House of Representatives, while monitoring the situation, has not identified any immediate threats to its members.

In the Senate, several Democratic senators have been named as recipients of suspicious envelopes. Senators Alex Padilla and Chris Murphy confirmed that letters were sent to their offices. Murphy’s Hartford office, for instance, was notified by the FBI, the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police, and the letter was intercepted by federal authorities. The Senate’s notice also highlighted the use of “mail hoods,” screening equipment that allows staff to handle mail without exposing themselves to potential danger.

These incidents echo a similar wave in 2023, when several state election offices received letters containing a white powder, some of which contained traces of fentanyl. That earlier threat prompted some offices to stock up on naloxone, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. The current series of mailings has not yet been linked to fentanyl, but the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors have jointly condemned the threats, stating that “those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”

Deputy Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue has emphasized that “any threat or attack on election officials is unacceptable” and that the Postal Service is working closely with the FBI to identify the sender(s). Donahue noted that the Postal Service was able to intercept at least one of the mailings, but the exact number of incidents remains under investigation.

The FBI’s ongoing investigation has not yet produced a suspect, and no arrests have been announced. The agency continues to monitor the situation and has called for a coordinated response from state and local law‑enforcement partners. As the national election approaches in less than three weeks, officials across the country are reinforcing safety protocols and reviewing emergency plans.

What to Watch Next

• Follow updates from the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service for any new information on the sender.
• Monitor state election offices for additional alerts or evacuation notices.
• Check congressional staff updates for changes in mail‑handling procedures.

For a detailed account of the incident at Maria Pappas’ office, see the Chicago Sun‑Times report. The broader context of the national investigation is covered by the Associated Press, NBC New York, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, ABC News, and Fox 17, among others.