Man Sends Letters Containing White Powder To US Officials Ahead Of Midterms

The powders turned out to be yeast or flour, though not all letters have been fully tested, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a court filing made public Tuesday.

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• An Oklahoma man is charged with sending white powder letters to officials before elections
• The powders tested so far were yeast or flour, with some still untested, officials said
• Robin Martin faces charges of hoax communication and mailing threats

What sentence could Robin Martin face if convicted?
Oklahoma City:

Federal authorities have charged an Oklahoma man with sending hundreds of letters containing nonhazardous white powder to public officials ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections.

The powders turned out to be yeast or flour, though not all letters have been fully tested, the FBI said in a court filing made public Tuesday.

Robin Martin is charged with conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications. Martin was expected to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon in Oklahoma City. Online records do not list an attorney to comment on his behalf.

Federal authorities announced last month that they were investigating letters with "suspicious substances" that had been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and urged recipients to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous."

A message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms obtained by The Associated Press said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters, but "it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations."

The FBI said at the time that the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service were investigating. The FBI referred questions to the U.S. attorney's office Tuesday, and the Postal Inspection Service didn't immediately return an email message from the AP seeking comment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Got a follow‑up question on this article? Go on

• How did federal investigators track the letters back to Martin?
• What motive did the suspect have for targeting election officials?
• How are security measures changing for mail sent to officials?

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Oklahoma Man Charged, White Powder Letters, USMidterms2026