Rep. Sarah Elfreth's office evacuated due to suspicious letter

Bridget Byrne and Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun on Oct 17, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BALTIMORE — Rep. Sarah Elfreth’s district office in Columbia received “a suspicious letter containing an unknown substance” Friday, prompting an evacuation, according to a statement the congresswoman posted online.

“Threats like these do nothing but inhibit our ability to serve our community. These acts aren’t brave political statements. They are anti-democratic,” Elfreth wrote.

Elfreth represents Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll counties in Congress and is in her first term.

Howard County fire and police responded to the 10400 block of Little Patuxent Parkway around 2:20 p.m. for a report of a suspicious substance received in the mail. As of Friday evening, police had no injuries reported, and the building continued to operate normally, aside from the affected floor. Police said there was no indication of danger to the general public.

On Thursday, a suspicious envelope intended for the Maryland State Board of Elections was intercepted before delivery, State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.

“Threatening and harassment of election administrators must end. The mission is clear — administer the election, let the people decide their future. And to the anonymous coward — know this — you have failed and will always fail. All you have done is strengthen my resolve,” DeMarinis posted on X on Thursday.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said this week they are investigating reports from several lawmakers and election offices across the country receiving such packages this week, according to the Associated Press.

Law enforcement officials told U.S. senators this week that they were working to intercept any additional letters, though cautioning that some could arrive at their destinations, the AP reported.