Oklahoma man charged as second person for mailing letters with white powder to members of Congress

What This is

• Federal authorities say Oklahoma City resident Robin Martin sent hundreds of letters with white powder and threatening messages to election officials, members of Congress, and other targets.
• Investigators say more than 700 mailings have been linked to Martin, and many of the powders tested so far were nonhazardous substances such as yeast or flour.
• Prosecutors say Martin’s letters included ominous warnings about treason, including UV-reactive or invisible-ink style markings meant to amplify the threat.
• Authorities say they tied Martin to the mailings using evidence such as surveillance footage, fingerprints, postal records, handwriting analysis, and related investigative leads.
• Martin is charged with conveying a hoax or false information and with mailing threatening communications, according to federal court records.
• In a separate case, federal authorities charged Illinois man Matthew Unglesbee with mailing at least four white-substance letters to members of Congress, with testing indicating the substance was salt and not toxic.

Why This Matters

• Powder-filled hoax letters force costly emergency responses and disrupt basic government work.
• Targeting election offices can increase fear and burnout among workers who run elections.
• Even when powder is harmless, the anthrax association can chill public service and reduce access to elected officials.