Thursday October 28, 2021
By Marina Pitofsky
The office of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., received a package with a “suspicious substance” on Tuesday, but law enforcement confirmed the substance is not hazardous.
Omar tweeted that her office received the package and a threat reading, in part, “The Patriarchy will rise again.'"
"Everyone on our team is okay. We reported the package to Capitol Police and they determined it to be safe," the Democratic lawmaker added.
Omar later tweeted that "They can send the threatening emails, phone calls and packages to distract us but nothing will ever slow us down as we serve the people of #MN5," referencing her Minnesota congressional district.
U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to USA TODAY that the area around Omar’s office on Capitol Hill was “briefly restricted” while officers investigated the substance.
“An on-site test of the substance was negative for anything hazardous,” Capitol Police said in a statement. USA TODAY has reached out for additional information.
This is not the first time in recent years a lawmaker has received suspicious substances. A package was sent to the Kentucky home of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., earlier this year containing a nontoxic substance.
Last year, Capitol Police closed off a hallway outside the office of Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as officers investigated a suspicious substance, according tomultiple reports.
Capitol Police said in May that there has been a 107% increase in threats against members of Congress in 2021 compared with 2020. Officials at the time said they were “confident” the threats would increase.