Oregon Man Arrested in Connection to Threatening Letters Containing White Powder Sent to Members of Congress
- Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:24pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
(AP) — A 39-year-old man charged in connection with threatening letters containing white powder that were sent to members of Congress and some media organizations was arrested Friday.
Investigators said Christopher Lee Carlson was indicted on two criminal counts arising out of an investigation into the mailing of about 100 envelopes containing white power.
The letters, postmarked in Portland, Ore., so far have all tested negative for toxic substances, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland said.
A federal grand jury indictment returned Friday in Portland charged Carlson, described as being from the Portland-Vancouver, Wash., area.
The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Carlson was arrested at a home in the Portland area.
Carlson was charged with one count of mailing a threatening communication to a member of Congress. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was referenced by name. The second count charged the man with mailing a letter threatening to use a biological weapon to a U.S. senator. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. was named in that count.
Carlson is expected to be arraigned Monday.
Investigators have recovered more than 100 letters addressed to U.S. senators and representatives. The Seattle office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said it also received one.
“Threatening letters – whether hoax or real – are serious concerns that federal law enforcement agencies will aggressively pursue,” said Greg Fowler, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon.
Murray’s office did not immediately return a call for comment Friday night.
Some letters were sent to district offices of the Congress members.
The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service all participated in the investigation.
The letters, which first came to light in late February, told the recipients that there is a “10 percent chance you have just been exposed to a lethal pathogen.”
The letters bore a return address from “The MIB.” The listed Portland return address didn’t exist.
The sender wanted an “end to corporate money and `lobbying,’“ an end to corporate ”personhood” and a new constitutional convention. The Associated Press obtained a copy of a letter.
The threats raised memories of post-9/11 incidents that rattled Washington. In mid-November 2001, authorities closed two Senate office buildings after anthrax attacks on Congress. Those attacks came after four people – two postal workers in Washington, a New York City hospital worker and a Florida photo editor – died from exposure to anthrax.
Comments (10)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 569 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 395 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 386 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 368 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 331 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 386 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 395 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 331 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 386 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
godlovinmom
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:10pmMost people from Oregon are decent hard working folks…unless you’re from Portland…this does not surprise me at all…Portland is the equivelent of a “lil” san francisco…unfortunately cities like portland, eugene springfield salem are filled with college students that march to the libral drum…so we are known as a libral state and vote “tony the tiger” into office…I personally would vote for a state of jefferson…where no. calif and so. oregon become a state :)
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:34amHis political alliance was not noted. I wonder why?
Do you think he was a member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy? Or maybe the Tea Party? Wait, wait, I know (hand waving in the air), Bush and Cheney were behind it. What? You think it was Sarah Palin & Co.?
Report Post »michael48
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:38amporkland….figures. a suburb of moscow…
Report Post »EP46
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 6:06amDid they arrest Farrakhan on the same day?
Report Post »Farrakhan has called Obama a “murderer” and “assassin,“
The Nation of Islam’s official newspaper The Final Call on Saturday published an opinion piece attacking “minion of the synagogue of Satan” Glenn Beck vowing it will “not allow such vicious assaults” on the movement’s leader
13th Imam
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:55pmThink of the future Threatening letter you will get from Big Obamacare , if you don’t follow their rules? Or the Threatening letter from the Obamacare Death Panel stating no further appeal will be considered. When a Federal Representative passes a Bill without reading it, that is a Threat.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:13pmOOPS, I meant flakes.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:12pmhmmm ““end to corporate money and `lobbying,’“ an end to corporate ”personhood”? im not saying who this guy supports but i think he OWS someone an explanation dontcha think?
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:12pmPortland is like a cereal: If you take out all the fruits and nuts, all you got left are the flaks.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:20pmYes…do not frighten the idiots…they cannot do their job already. They do not need undo stress.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:17pmIs the EPA mucking with our Water Supply, again?
Report Post »