An employee of an Illinois lawmaker suddenly got sick after opening a letter addressed to the lawmaker.
The employee, who works for Democrat state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, was opening mail addressed to their boss from prison inmates when they felt ill and went to the bathroom, CBS News reported:
“The employee has been transported to an area hospital and is currently in stable condition. While it is not yet known if the mail in question was a factor in the employee’s condition, out of an abundance of caution, the building was evacuated, and emergency crews are currently on scene,” AIPD said in a statement published Monday on social media.
Investigators found a suspicious substance on the letter and are continuing their investigation, CBS News added.
“The investigators are going to recover the letter. They’re going to analyze the substance. They’re going to look at the postmark and then they’ll be moving backwards toward who had access, who has been sending things in the past, are there other threats that have been made?” former FBI investigator Phil Andrew said.
The Democrat lawmaker was not present at the office when the incident occurred but thanked law enforcement for the swift response.
“I want to thank all first responders for their hard work and support during todays incident … My team member who came in contact with the letter is in good spirits as they wait for testing results. It is unfortunate we live in this type of environment where we have to worry about these incidents. However, I’m very proud and grateful for my team and the first responders for the quick action,” Hernandez wrote.
Threats against lawmakers have been on the rise in recent months.
A recent swatting hoax targeting Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene‘s home in north Georgia led to a devastating car crash involving local authorities.
On Monday, Greene shed on social media that her residence had been the target of a bomb threat. She revealed that the Rome Police Department’s assistant chief received the threat via email, prompting a bomb squad to investigate. (RELATED: Swatting Hoax At Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Home Ends In Fatal Car Crash)
While responding to the bomb threat, a Rome Police Department officer with the Floyd County Bomb Squad was involved in a traffic collision en route to Greene’s residence. The accident resulted in the death of 66-year-old Tammie Pickelsimer, who succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a hospital. The officer involved was not critically injured, according to a spokesperson for the Rome Police Department.
Greene expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life and extended her concern for the injured officer.
“I’m heartsick right now. I was just informed that an innocent woman died today in an auto accident involving a member of the Rome Police bomb squad who was responding to the threat at my home,” the congresswoman tweeted.
“Since being elected to Congress, I have been swatted at least nine times—deliberate attempts to provoke a deadly police response through false and highly exaggerated threats,” Greene stated.
Swatting is a dangerous tactic where false emergency reports are filed to elicit a heavy-handed police response. These incidents not only waste critical law enforcement resources but also put lives at risk.
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