Montana Republican lawmakers report letters with mysterious powder

Republican lawmakers in Montana received letters containing white powder as federal agents investigate mysterious substances similarly mailed to GOP officials in two other states.

Montana GOP officials said Saturday that Reps. Rhonda Knudsen, R-Culbertson, and Neil Duram, R-Eureka, both received anonymous letters at their homes with local return addresses but post office markings from Kansas City.

"Inside the main envelopes were vague and threatening letters accompanied by a smaller envelope containing an unknown white powder," according to a press release from Montana Republican House Leadership.

According to the press release, both representatives have reported that they feel fine and have not experienced any symptoms of a biological or chemical attack. Both letters are now in the possession of local law enforcement.

The state attorney general and local law enforcement are investigating and working to test the powder to determine its composition. Attorney General Austin Knudsen is Rhonda Knudsen’s son.

In a Friday night tweet, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte said he has received "disturbing" reports of anonymous threats sent to legislators. The Montana attorney general posted on Facebook that the local sheriff's office collected evidence after his mother, a state representative, opened one letter with a "white powder substance" sent to her home address.

"PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS about opening your mail," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in the post directed toward legislators. "If you receive a suspicious package, contact law enforcement immediately."

Montana House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said his party "will not be threatened or distracted now."

"We are in tumultuous times and House leadership will continue our objective to protect Montanans' freedom and safety no matter what cowardly threats are directed at us.”

Republican officials in Tennessee and Kansas have recently received similar letters. A legislative office building in Nashville temporarily locked down on Thursday after the House Speaker said multiple Republican leaders got mail with "a white powder substance." The letters included "obvious threats made by a liberal activist specifically targeting Republicans," according to a House Republican Caucus spokesperson who did not provide further details.

The FBI said Thursday that ongoing lab tests did not indicate any risk to public safety.

About 100 such letters have been sent to lawmakers and public officials across Kansas, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Preliminary tests did not detect any common dangerous toxins and no injuries have been reported.