Tests Confirm White Powder Sent To Karen Handel's Home Was Non-Hazardous: FBI

ROSWELL, GA -- A week after threatening letters and white powder were sent to the homes of U.S. Rep.-elect Karen Handel, her neighbors and two news stations, the FBI has released the analyses conducted on those items.

The final lab results from the Georgia Department of Public Health are in and they have all tested negative for "any known biological threat agent," said FBI Atlanta Field Office Special Agent spokesperson Stephen Emmett.

Handel, who defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in the June 20 special election runoff to fill Georgia's 6th Congressional District seat vacated by Tom Price, received the threatening letter and powder on June 15 at her home located off Roxburgh Drive in Roswell.

Emmett previously told Patch that similar packages were also sent to Fox 5 Atlanta's office in DeKalb County and WXIA 11 Alive's offices in Atlanta.

Emmett said agents reviewed more than a dozen letters, and of the several that were opened, all contained "threat based content." A total of nine letters were not delivered, as they were intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service before they were sent out.

These results come on the heels of the chairman of the Fulton County Republican Party stating the organization's office in Sandy Springs also received a letter containing white powder.

According to an incident report released by Atlanta police, an officer met with party chair William Kelly, who said he picked up mail from the GOP's headquarters in Sandy Springs. He told the officer he felt a "noticeable powder substance" inside one of the letters, which he said was addressed from Greenville, South Carolina, the report notes.

He placed the mail on the passenger seat of his car and drove to his home in Buckhead where he phoned police. The scene was secured and Kelly's neighbors were told to remain inside until it was safe. Kelly did not experience any health problems due to contact he may have had with the powder, the report adds.

Atlanta Fire Squad 4 entered the garage where the car was located and tested the package, which was determine to be Arm & Hammer baking soda. A Homeland Security officer arrived and completed an on-site investigation, and the letter was turned over to his control as evidence for additional investigation, Atlanta police said.

Image via Karen Handel