A suspicious envelope delivered to Rep. Mark DeSaulnier’s Walnut Creek office Friday, Oct. 16, prompted an evacuation after a staff member recognized similarities to mailings received by other congressional offices.
The envelope matched the description and return address of suspicious mailings identified in a U.S. Capitol Police warning, DeSaulnier said in a statement published by the Contra Costa Herald.
The staff member secured the envelope without opening it and contacted local law enforcement and Capitol Police, he said. His statement described threatening letters and white powder received at other offices but did not confirm the Walnut Creek envelope’s contents.
Emergency response on Oak Road
Hazardous-materials crews and police responded to the office in the 3100 block of Oak Road around 4 p.m., NEWS24/680 reported.
The outlet reported that building occupants were evacuated and northbound traffic on Oak Road was blocked while emergency vehicles maneuvered at the scene.
DeSaulnier, who represents California’s 10th Congressional District, thanked responders and said his staff’s safety remained his priority.
“We remain committed to serving CA-10 residents and will not be deterred from this important work by threats,” he said.
Broader investigation
The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police were investigating suspicious mailings sent to congressional and election offices nationwide, according to an Oct. 15 Associated Press report.
An Oct. 19 Patch follow-up reported that authorities were still investigating the envelope delivered to DeSaulnier’s office.
