Rep. Sarah Elfreth’s district office in Columbia was evacuated Friday afternoon after a suspicious letter and substance were delivered by mail.

No illnesses were reported and Howard County authorities said there’s no indication of danger to the public, but the incident drew fire and police officers to the office space located in a building at 10440 Little Patuxent Parkway around 2:20 p.m.

Elfreth confirmed in a statement that she and her team are safe, but her office was evacuated out of caution. She said the letter and unknown substance matched those reported by other congressional offices.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service have been investigating similar deliveries of a powdery, white substance that have arrived at state election and congressional offices across the country.

Advertise with us

Among them was the Maryland State Board of Elections on Thursday. Federal law enforcement agencies informed state officials via email that they had intercepted mail addressed to the board in Annapolis.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who represents Maryland’s district 7, which includes parts of Baltimore, and serves on the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, sent a letter Friday to Postmaster General David Steiner and Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale requesting a briefing on the suspicious mailings.

“As the investigation continues, I want to make sure Congress has a clear picture of the threat and of any support the Postal Service needs to address it,” Mfume said in the letter.

The congresswoman said her team is working closely with local and federal investigators. She estimated the district office has served 3,200 constituents over the last two years.

“Threats like these do nothing but inhibit our ability to serve our community,” Elfreth said in the statement. “These acts aren’t brave political statements. They are anti-democratic. They are corrosive. They put hardworking people — my district office team — dedicated to serving our community in danger.”