2nd 'Suspicious' Envelope In A Week Sent To Rep. Jan Schakowsky's Skokie Office

SKOKIE, IL — A second "suspicious" envelope sent to Rep. Jan Schakowsky's office in Skokie triggered a hazmat response on Wednesday, according to the Skokie Fire Department.

An employee at Schakowsky's Skokie office reported they had received a suspicious letter around 10:58 a.m., the fire department said. The office was immediately evacuated and staff called the Skokie Police Department, which sent officers and a hazmat team.

The police response is still ongoing, according to the Skokie Fire Department.

This is the second time in less than a week that Shakowsky's office has received a suspicious envelope. On Friday, Schakowsky shared on social media that her team similarly identified the mail as suspicious and didn't open it.

Schakowsky compared the Friday incident at her office to similar recent cases of suspicious mail that has been sent to other elected officials in Illinois and across the country.

On Oct. 15, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reported that an envelope with white powder had been sent to her office near Chicago City Hall. Authorities determined that the substance in the envelope was baking soda and not threatening.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said they are looking into the "suspicious mailings" that have been sent to several elected officials' offices.