Rep. Costa issues statement on white powder envelope
October 21, 2026
VISALIA – Representatives across the nation have been receiving envelopes with a powdery white substance in them, one of which made its way to Visalia.
According to a statement from Rep. Jim Costa on Oct. 20, Costa’s district office in Visalia was one of many elected offices across the U.S. to receive a suspicious letter containing white powder. The envelope was discovered on Oct. 19, and a coordinated response between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local law enforcement and U.S. Capitol Police ensured the office’s staff was safe and unharmed, said Costa.
“While the nature of this letter is still under forensic analysis, let me be clear: any attempts to instill fear and intimidation will not deter my dedicated staff and me from working for the people of our Valley,” Costa said in his statement. “No matter the circumstance, we remain committed to serving California’s 21st Congressional District. We will continue to work with law enforcement as the investigation continues.”
The FBI has reported it is not confirming specific instances of white powder envelope letters. However, a statement from the bureau did share that the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are currently investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and their related election offices, as well as congressional offices.
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” said the statement. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
The statement added that the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens.
Costa is one of approximately nine federal lawmakers in the state of California who has received a suspicious envelope containing white powder, according to reports from the LA Times and Sacramento Bee. Letters have been sent to elected offices all over the nation, both Republican and Democratic, and according to reports from ABC News, preliminary information indicates there may be over 100 letters containing the powder in the U.S. mail system.
So far, preliminary tests have indicated the envelopes contain no hazardous materials.
Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instruct to never attempt to open, shake, sniff, touch or inspect the inside of the envelope in a situation where powder is suspected. The guidelines say powdery residue, oily stains, uneven weight and unusual postage, like excessive packaging materials including masking tape and string, can be items to look out for if powder is suspected to be in an envelope.
In the event of a suspicious or potentially hazardous envelope, the guidelines instruct carefully putting it down, isolating the area, turning off ventilation, washing hands and calling emergency services for further instruction.
Issues:Public Safety