UPDATED: FBI Arrests Oklahoma City Man for Sending Letters with Suspicious White Powder to Delaware Election Commissioner’s Office & Senator Blunt Rochester
UPDATED – 11/03/26 – The suspect who sent hundreds of letters containing suspicious white powder to public officials and election offices around the country has been arrested. The FBI arrested Robin Patrick Martin of Oklahoma City, Monday after over 700 suspicious mailings sent in 2026 to the same sender – there were also letters sent to public officials ahead of the 2024 election as well.
The letters were addressed to state election boards, members of Congress of all parties, pollsters, media organizations and the FBI. Here in Delaware, the State Board of Elections received a letter that was opened – and the main office was closed for about a week while the powder was investigated. Another letter was sent to Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, but was intercepted before opened.
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UPDATED – 10/21/26 – 1:50pm: This afternoon, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health (DHSS, DPH) reported to the Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) that DPH final laboratory test results confirm that no hazardous materials were detected in white powdery substance found in the suspicious mail received and opened at the State Election Commissioner’s Office last week. Full operations and public service at the State Election Commissioner’s Office located at 905 S. Governors Ave., Suite 170 in Dover will resume tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd.
The DOE thanks all the state agencies involved for their collaboration in what was a timely resolution of the issue. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) continue their investigation of the incident.
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UPDATED – 10/16/26 – 8:40pm – An initial test by DHSS and Public Heath officials of the white powdery substance found in suspicious mail opened at the State Election Commissioner’s Office on Thursday shows no hazardous substances were detected. Another test is in process – final results are expected by Wednesday of next week. Officials have indicated that there is a high degree of confidence that these results will be negative as well. Until the second test results are completed, the State Election Commissioner’s Office public services will continue to operate out of the Kent County Office on Enterprise Place in Dover. The investigation by the FBI and testing by the US Postal Inspection Service are ongoing.
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UPDATED – 10/16/26 – The State Election Commissioner’s Office in Dover has been temporarily relocated to the Kent County Office on Enterprise Place in Dover while the investigation into suspicious mail continues. The Commissioner’s office building is closed until further notice by DNREC – the FBI has taken over the investigation – while the US Postal Inspection Service tests the envelope and its contents.
The Commissioner’s Office and all DOE offices statewide have resumed normal operations. Preparation for all public meetings, absentee ballot processing, logic and accuracy testing is proceeding uninterrupted. Early voting sites statewide will open as scheduled on Thursday, October 22.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 10/15/26 – DOVER, DE – Today, October 15, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., an employee in the State Election Commissioner’s Office of the Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) received and opened an envelope, which was discovered to contain a white powdery substance. Staff members followed security and USPS postal instructions on handling suspicious mail. The envelope was isolated, staff members were decontaminated and evacuated, and the HVAC system was shut down. Additionally, state and federal law enforcement and other partners arrived at the office to conduct an investigation into the incident and test the substance.
All election offices statewide have sent their non-essential state employees home in an abundance of caution.
Additional information will be provided to the public as soon as it is available.
