DOJ charges Oklahoma man for allegedly mailing white powder to public officials before elections

Investigators arrested Robin Martin on Monday and have linked him to more than 700 mailings of white powder to various public figures in two waves — one before the 2024 elections and one before the 2026 elections, according to the Associated Press. He’s being charged with conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications.Though not all the letters have been tested, those that were were found to be flour or yeast. Nevertheless, the alleged purpose was to trigger a panic, as white powder letters have been a long-running concern since the anthrax letter scare of the early 2000s. The letters made clear their intentions, with the return address reading “U.S.T.E.A., United States Traitor Elimination Army, Takoma Park, MD.” The letters themselves were filled with hostile declarations, including warnings of arrests for treason, and many of the 2024 letters declared war.Notably, the recipients were bipartisan, hitting both Republican and Democratic offices with no obvious connections.2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS, RESULTS, AND ANALYSISWhile politicians were the most visible targets, he also sent letters to pollsters, news media, and federal law enforcement.Letter threats with hoax substances have become a phenomenon in recent years. In a separate case, someone mailed threatening letters to officials in 2023 containing white powder laced with fentanyl.