Washington — An Oklahoma man faces federal charges after allegedly sending hundreds of letters containing white powder to public officials and media outlets ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections.
According to charging documents released Tuesday, Robin Patrick Martin sent more than 700 envelopes to officials from both parties across the country. Authorities said the powder in the envelopes was not toxic and that the envelopes contained messages written in UV-reactive ink, difficult to see with the naked eye.
Martin is charged with one count of transmitting false or misleading information and hoaxes and another count of sending threatening communications. It was not immediately clear whether Martin had been taken into custody.
According to an FBI affidavit, Martin “described perceived problems with the 2020 election, claimed that President Donald Trump won the 2020 election, and expressed concerns about some of the same recurring issues in the upcoming 2024 election.”
Some of the messages carried return addresses linked to the former headquarters of the Green Party of the United States and the Democratic Socialists of America. The DSA cooperated with the FBI in its investigation, the affidavit states.
In an envelope addressed to the Oklahoma State Election Board ahead of the 2024 election, Martin reportedly wrote “stay on the right side of history, your life could depend on it!” » Federal prosecutors say the handwriting of this message was matched to the new batch of letters through handwriting analysis.
According to the affidavit, the contents of the letters sent in 2026 “all concerned the upcoming 2026 national elections” and Martin allegedly referenced an organization known as the United States Traitor Elimination Army in his writings, threatening the recipients with arrest for treason “OR WORSE!!”
Federal investigators also intercepted a message allegedly sent by Martin to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Martin dropping off the envelopes at a USPS facility in 2024 and 2026, and records analyzed by federal law enforcement reportedly showed Martin purchased items used for mailing in August of that year, as well as the ingredients for “invisible ink” used to write on the envelopes.
In October, Brendan Donahue, deputy chief inspector of the United States Postal Inspection Service, confirmed that “suspicious mail” was sent to “various addresses throughout the country,” including Secretary of State offices and associated election offices.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms also issued a notice to congressional staff informing them of the investigation. Dozens of members of Congress and election officials across the country have reported being targeted by the mailers.
CBS News has contacted the Justice Department for comment.
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