Suspicious package closes Santa Cruz County government building

Key Points:

• A suspicious package containing a white powdery substance was found at Congressman Jimmy Panetta's office in Santa Cruz County, leading to the closure and evacuation of the county government building as a precaution; the substance was later deemed harmless.
• This incident is part of a broader series of suspicious mailings sent to lawmakers and election offices across the U.S., with similar envelopes containing unknown substances prompting warnings and investigations.
• Other California lawmakers, including Zoe Lofgren, Kevin Kiley, and Alex Padilla, as well as several members of Congress nationwide, have also reported receiving suspicious mail, with federal officials treating the cases as potentially connected.
• The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation, working to identify the sender(s) and ensure public safety, with preliminary tests showing no hazardous material in the powder samples tested so far.
• Congressman Panetta emphasized the importance of staff safety and condemned threats against public servants, reaffirming commitment to democratic service despite intimidation attempts.