Key facts
- Matthew Unglesbee charged with mailing threatening letters to four lawmakers.
- Letters contained a white granular substance identified as salt.
- Unglesbee admitted to sending the letters after hearing about similar incidents.
- He acknowledged recipients would perceive the letters as dangerous.
An Illinois man, Matthew Unglesbee, was charged on Monday with sending threatening letters containing a white granular substance to at least four U.S. lawmakers. The FBI stated in a court filing that Unglesbee admitted to sending the letters after reading about similar suspicious mailings. He told agents he knew the recipients would perceive the letters as dangerous, comparing the substance to anthrax. The powder was later identified as salt. A search of his residence uncovered a fifth unmailed envelope addressed to a member of Congress. Several lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, had publicly stated their offices received suspicious mailings.