Kansas authorities preliminarily determined that a suspicious white powder contained on at least some letters mailed to over 100 Republican Kansas legislators and Attorney General Kris Kobach doesn't contain "biologicals," according to an email sent to lawmakers, reports the Topeka Capital-Journal. Similar letters containing a cryptic note and a “suspicious powdery substance” were addressed to former President Trump, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and other high-profile individuals, though the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted them before they were delivered, ABC News reports. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) said it was working with the FBI and a host of state agencies to investigate the letters, hours after legislative staff warned lawmakers about the suspicious mail.
In a message to members of his caucus, Senate President Ty Masterson said he had been informed by KBI director Tony Mattivi that Kansas Department of Health and Environment testing had found the powder to be "presumptively negative for any biologicals." The agency said that "a small sample" of letters had been tested. "Further and more complete testing will be conducted on this sample, as well as on additional letters that have been collected, in an effort to determine the components of the substance." The KBI said that more than 100 letters had been confirmed, with scores of GOP legislators confirming on social media that they had received the missives. A motive for the mailing was unclear. In a statement Monday, top House and Senate Republican lawmakers said the early test results were "good news." They said it "has nonetheless been a stressful last few days for our families and other citizens impacted by this cowardly attempt to intimidate the legislature."