A former sailor is behind the plot to send envelopes with suspicious substances — at least two of which tested positive for the poison ricin — to the Pentagon, the White House and Sen. Ted Cruz’s Houston office, according to a report.
One of two envelopes — addressed to either Defense Secretary James Mattis or Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson – contained a return address that linked them to the former sailor, whose name has not been disclosed, officials told Fox News.
Another envelope was addressed to President Trump at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. A tip from the White House led officials at the Pentagon to discover the packages.
They were delivered Monday at an off-site mailing facility at the sprawling defense complex, officials told the news outlet.
Both packages initially tested positive for ricin but are undergoing further tests by the FBI.
The US Secret Service revealed late Tuesday that it had received a “suspicious envelope” addressed to the president the day before.
The agency said the envelope “was not received at the White House, nor did it ever enter the White House,” adding that the agency was “working jointly with our law enforcement partners to fully investigate this matter.”
Word of the incidents in the Washington area came as officials said two people were rushed to the hospital after being exposed to a white, powdery substance in mail sent to Cruz’s campaign office in Houston.
The Houston Fire Department said the powder tested negative for hazardous substances. The two people who were taken to the hospital don’t work for the Cruz campaign.
Ricin is part of the waste “mash” produced when castor oil is made. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if it is made into a partially purified material or refined, ricin can be used as a weapon capable of causing death.
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