Federal authorities have formally charged Robin Martin, a man from Oklahoma, with mailing hundreds of letters containing white powder to public officials before the 2024 and 2026 elections. According to a court filing released by the FBI on Tuesday, the powders found in the mailings were determined to be yeast or flour, though not every letter had undergone full testing at the time of the announcement.
Martin faces charges for conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications. He was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon in Oklahoma City. As of the report, online records did not list an attorney available to comment on his behalf.
This development follows an announcement made last month by federal authorities regarding an investigation into letters containing "suspicious substances" sent to congressional and election offices across the nation. At that time, officials urged recipients to treat the mailings as potentially hazardous. A message from the Senate sergeant at arms, obtained by the Associated Press, indicated that law enforcement was working to intercept additional letters, though it remained possible that some could still reach their destinations.
The FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service were leading the investigation into the suspicious mailings. When approached for comment on Tuesday, the FBI referred inquiries to the US attorney's office, while the Postal Inspection Service did not immediately respond to requests for information.
Sources: The Guardian World.