U.S. Rep. Al Green is sending a defiant message after his Houston congressional office received a suspicious letter containing an unidentified powder: He will not be intimidated.
The longtime Democratic congressman spoke out after learning that the letter, which reportedly arrived Friday, had been addressed to him. Green displayed an image of the envelope during a news conference and condemned what he described as an unacceptable attempt to frighten public officials and their staff.
“This is intolerable. We won’t tolerate it and we also won’t be intimidated,” Green said.
The envelope bore a San Antonio postmark dated Oct. 13. Authorities have not publicly identified the substance or announced who sent it. The FBI, Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department and U.S. Capitol Police responded to the incident and are investigating.
Green said the incident was particularly troubling because of the potential danger to congressional employees and constituents who visit his office seeking assistance.
“The safety and well-being of our staff and the constituents we serve remain our highest priority…No one working in a congressional office or any other public office should have to fear for their safety while carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them by the people.””
– Congressman Al Green
“The safety and well-being of our staff and the constituents we serve remain our highest priority,” Green said in a statement. “No one working in a congressional office or any other public office should have to fear for their safety while carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them by the people.”
He added that political threats and intimidation have no place in American democracy, declaring that he remains “unbought, unbossed, and unintimidated.”
Green also called for those responsible to be prosecuted, saying even a prank involving suspicious powder can have serious consequences.
“If a person is doing this as a joke, it’s not funny,” Green said.
He expressed frustration over the public resources required to respond to such incidents, including emergency personnel, investigators and specialized equipment used to screen suspicious mail. Green said the person responsible should be held accountable for the disruption and the potential danger posed to others.
More than three dozen members of Congress have reportedly been targeted, including lawmakers from both political parties. Federal investigators are working to determine who is responsible and whether the incidents are connected.
According to a congressional security advisory, none of the letters received by congressional offices had been determined to contain hazardous substances at that time.
For Green, the timing is especially concerning. The discovery coincided with the first day of early voting in Texas, just two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Green said he could not rule out a political motive and expressed concern that such incidents could discourage Americans from participating in the democratic process. He urged anyone with information about the letter’s origin to contact law enforcement.
Despite the investigation and uncertainty surrounding the substance, Green made clear that the incident would not deter him from representing his constituents.
His message to whoever sent the letter was unmistakable: He intends to continue doing his job, and intimidation will not change that.
