Michigan lawmaker receives 'civil war' letter including white powder

Max Reinhart, The Detroit News on Oct 20, 2026

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A Michigan congresswoman is among the Democratic lawmakers nationwide who have received threatening letters containing an unidentified white powder, her office announced Oct. 16.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., received the concerning mail at her Grand Rapids office, she said in a press release.

Scholten said the letter purported to be sent from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and made "a direct and specific reference to an impending 'civil war' after the election."

She said her letter is similar to those recently received at other congressional offices for Democratic lawmakers around the country.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said that a "suspicious letter was intercepted en route to our office in Detroit."

"Everyone is safe, and the matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI," Slotkin said on X late Friday night.

Representatives for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Alex Padilla of California and Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Oct. 15 that the U.S. Postal Service intercepted letters containing a suspicious substance mailed to their offices, according to a Reuters report.

The offices of Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester, both of Delaware, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York were also mailed suspicious letters, CBS News reported.

Scholten represents Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties in west Michigan. A former attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, she was first elected to the U.S. House in November 2022 and began her first term in January 2023.

She said the staff members who opened the letter and the first responders who arrived at the scene are all safe.

"I’m thankful to law enforcement for their professionalism, and I’m proud of my team for staying calm and looking out for one another," Scholten said in a statement.

While investigators work to determine the origin of the letters and the chemical makeup of the white powder, Scholten called on the DSA to condemn the threats and deny responsibility, "if there is none."

The DSA said the letters listed a return address of 75 Maiden Lane in New York City, a former DSA office location the organization hasn't occupied in more than a decade.

"We condemn all threats and violence, including when directed at political leaders, regardless of party or political views. We will cooperate with authorities to support their investigations in this incident, as appropriate," the DSA said in an email to The Detroit News.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Service's law enforcement arm are investigating the suspicious mailings, Reuters reported.

The letters arrived less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

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