Staff evacuation, hazmat team called out as local members of Congress deal with suspicious mailings

Three area members of Congress announced Friday that their offices had received suspicious mailings along with other elected leaders across the nation.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky and Brad Schneider confirmed separately that their local offices had been targeted.

The FBI and other federal authorities are investigating a series of letters, with some involving threats or unknown substances, addressed to members of Congress and state election officials. The disturbances come 18 days before the midterm elections.

Schneider of Highland Park said a threatening letter arrived at his office in Lincolnshire Friday. After alerting authorities, Lincolnshire fire and police responders arrived with a hazmat team.

“They tested the letter and confirmed it did not contain any harmful substances. The space was deemed ‘all clear’ after a couple of hours,” Schneider said in a statement. “I am very grateful for the swift response of local law enforcement and fire department personnel and thankful that my team and the building is safe."

He added, "Anyone or any group who thinks they can scare or intimidate members of Congress or our teams from doing our job and work on behalf of the people we represent is sorely mistaken."

Quigley said his Chicago office received an unusual package that resulted in an evacuation.

“My staff and I are safe and are working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to support an investigation,” Quigley said in a statement.

Schakowsky of Evanston also reported a suspicious envelope at her Skokie office.

"Thanks to warnings from the House Sergeant at Arms, my team quickly identified the suspicious piece of mail and did not open it. We’re grateful to the Skokie Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police for their swift response and assistance,“ she said in a statement.

mpyke@dailyherald.com.