Substance in "suspicious" package is nonhazardous, state officials say

ST. PAUL, Minn. — State officials say the substance found in a "suspicious" package delivered to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office on Friday is nonhazardous.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Minnesota Department of Health spearheaded the investigation and reported the results of their tests on Saturday. However, MDH is continuing to run an additional battery of tests.

The package was addressed to the state's office with a return address that read, "United States Traitor Elimination Army." The office evacuated after receiving the package and did not return for the rest of the workday on Friday.

Several other secretary of state offices and election officials say they have received similar packages over the last few months.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon released this statement on Saturday:

"We are thankful for the quick response by our law enforcement partners to ensure the staff members working in our office were safe. We are also grateful to the Minnesota Department of Health, which completed the initial analysis late into the evening on September 27.

Fear and intimidation of election workers will not be tolerated. New laws enacted in 2023 make it very clear that it is a crime to intimidate election workers and interfere with the administration of an election. Our focus remains on delivering a free, fair, accurate, and secure election for Minnesotans."

New laws protecting election workers went into effect in Minnesota in 2023. These new laws guarantee protection for election workers when it comes to intimidation, administration interference, doxing, obstructing access to polling places, ballot box tampering, tampering of statewide voter registration system, registration list or polling roaster.