Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose confirms suspicious package sent to his office

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose confirmed Wednesday morning his office was among 15 nationwide to receive a suspicious package containing a powdery substance.

LaRose, in a release, said investigators in other states determined the substance to be nonhazardous.

LaRose’s Public Integrity Division is working with law enforcement, including the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service, on the investigation.

“Fortunately, we were notified by our law enforcement partners to be on the lookout for this package, and we were able to intercept it before it reached our office,” LaRose said. “The security of our employees and all election officials across Ohio is a top concern as we enter a critical period in the election cycle. We’ve now seen two assassination attempts directed at a presidential candidate, and the FBI is actively investigating several threats here in Ohio. We need to lower the temperature of our political discourse and send a clear, bipartisan message that we resolve our elections in this country with ballots not bullets.”

Packages were also sent to election officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. According to NPR, Connecticut officials said the FBI alerted them of a package that was intercepted.

“With less than 50 days until the Nov. 5, 2024, general election, we are seeing a disturbing trend continue – the second assassination attempt of a presidential candidate, and threatening and intimidating actions towards election officials,” Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who serves as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, said in a statement. “Time and time again, NASS has condemned threats towards election officials and workers. We have continually spoken out against previous suspicious letters sent and the first assassination attempt of a former president and current presidential candidate. This must stop, period. Our democracy has no place for political violence, threats or intimidation of any kind.”

Recently, Gov. Mike DeWine approved more security for LaRose after multiple threats against him have led to investigations. State law allows the governor to give executive protection services to state officials through the Ohio State Highway Patrol.