Illinois man accused of threatening Congress with white substances in letters marked with his return address
Matthew G. Unglesbee, an Illinois man, has been charged with two felonies over letters containing a white granular substance sent to four members of Congress. The case matters because the letters prompted emergency responses and were intended, according to the complaint, to be perceived as potentially containing anthrax.
The letters bore Unglesbee’s name and return address, and included messages such as “HA HA” and “HAH enjoy the gift”. He allegedly told the FBI the substance was salt, chosen because it looked like anthrax, and that he knew recipients might treat it as a threat. Preliminary testing found no chemical or biological toxins; a search of his home uncovered a fifth letter.
In short
- An Illinois man faces two felony charges over letters sent to four members of Congress.
- The letters contained salt, according to his alleged account to the FBI.
- Preliminary tests found no chemical or biological toxins.
Explained simply
Anthrax is a dangerous germ that can cause serious illness, so suspicious powder sent through the post can trigger urgent safety checks. Emergency teams may need to assess the substance and protect people before they know what it is.
Members of Congress are elected lawmakers who work in the US Capitol and represent people in their states or districts. Threats sent to them can prompt police and emergency services to respond, even when a substance later tests negative for toxins.