Susan Collins’ Portland office receives letter containing ‘unknown substance’
Letter with “Unknown Substance” Reaches Senator Collins’ Portland Office
A letter containing an unidentified chemical or other material was received by the Portland office of U.S. Senator Susan Collins on Friday. The package was intercepted by police and hazmat teams before it could be opened, and no one was injured in the incident.
The incident is part of a broader FBI investigation into a series of suspicious mailings that have appeared across the United States. “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law‑enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement. The agency has not confirmed specific details of the Portland case, and a spokesperson for the Boston field office declined to comment on the event when asked by reporters.
Collins’ chief of staff, Katie Brown, sent a written thank‑you to the responders: “Thank you to the Portland police, the Portland fire department, the hazmat team, and the FBI (for) their quick and courageous response.” The letter also reached the senator’s Washington, D.C., office the day before, according to a statement from her Republican office.
The incident follows last month’s vandalism at Collins’ Biddeford office, where a spray‑painted vulgar message was left on the outer doors of the building. That event, too, drew a swift response from local police and federal investigators.
No injuries were reported at either location. The letter was held by law‑enforcement officials while forensic teams analyzed the substance. Details of the chemical or its potential threat have not yet been disclosed.
Collins, who has served in the Senate since 1997, is campaigning for a sixth term and faces Democratic challenger Troy Jackson. The incident, while isolated, underscores the broader concern among federal agencies about targeted threats directed at elected officials and election‑related offices.
The FBI continues to monitor and investigate any suspicious mailings that could pose a danger to public officials. Local law‑enforcement partners remain on alert as the investigation proceeds.
