Anthony Weiner's Office Receives Threatening Letter Containing White Powder

AP

Updated 6:09 p.m. Eastern Time

An envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was today delivered to the office of Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, who has been an outspoken proponent of health care reform efforts.

"The NYPD was immediately alerted and have responded appropriately by sending a Haz-Mat team," Weiner said in a statement. "Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority is the safety of my staff and neighbors, and the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve the situation."

Weiner's office in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens, where the letter was sent, is now closed. The letter referenced Weiner's vote in favor of health care, a law enforcement official told CBS News' Bob Orr.

Field tests are currently being done on the white powder, the official said. Thirteen people are going through a decontamination process, though none has shown signs of illness. (UPDATE: WABC-TV is reporting that police have concluded the powder is not hazardous.)

Weiner, who is Jewish, has reportedly received anti-Semitic notes in recent days, including one addressing him as "Schlomo." He has acknowledged that his strong support for reform, which has included multiple media appearances defending reform legislation, has made him "something of a lightning rod."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that more than 10 members of Congress have received threats in the wake of the vote, prompting FBI and police investigations.

[brianbwb2011]

"...Weiner, who is Jewish, has reportedly received anti-Semitic notes in recent days, including one addressing him as "Schlomo."

Now this one I don't get.

Schlomo is the Hebrew name of the Israeli legendary king that Americans know as Solomon, the successor to King Daud, or David, and reputed to have been the wisest king ever to have lived. The Arabs know his name as Sulaiman.

How is this is a racial insult?

Call me Malcolm X, or Muhammad Ali, for examples, I would be humbled to be mentioned in the company of such greatness.

Strangely enough, Schlomo is not a name familiar to many American "gentiles", the only pejorative I can see is that the author criticizes Wiener for presuming to be as wise as Shlomo,(Solomon, Sulaiman) and does so in such a way as to tempt me to believe the author was him/herself Jewish.

[glang33]

the best thing to do is to make sure republican tactics don't achieve any political gain. They need to be shut out in November so they will know that the majority of Americans expect them to actually do something while they are in office and not merely be the party of no. maybe these millionaires should have their health insurance taken away so they will no longer be able to live like kings on the taxpayer's dime while denying those same taxpayers any protection from the greedy, noncaring insurance companies.

[Jaymesbond]

I read the article, and I took a look at the comments (on this page).
'Right Wing Terrorists' 'GOP-you are going away'- Did the entire Republican party or the GOP send this letter? Does this article say who sent this letter? You people are assuming the group you hate [GOP] sent this letter. You do not know who sent this letter! For the first time in U.S. history, the government is forcing U.S. citizens to buy health insurance from a government approved health insurance company. If you do not buy this insurance you will be fined. If you do not pay your fine you will be put in prison. We have seen a lot of change we can count on in the last two years! The government owns GM and Chrysler and the banks have had a beautiful bailout. These 'tea baggers' are 'Protesters' taking advantage of the first amendment right to disagree with the Obama administration. Its free speech that we hate we need to tolerate not free speech we like. People want to become U.S. citizens and to come to the land of opportunity where we have the most freedom in the world. Health care and many other things are great, but we should not be forced to do anything by the government. Did you know that a lot of Americans were not for this bill? Do you want America to have a change you can count on like France, Spain, Stalin, Mao, North Korea, Castro, Socialism, or Communism? Do you like your freedom of choice?

[brianbwb2011]

Come on son, everyone knows the "white powder" is supposed to be an anthrax scare, and this has been a publicly stated tactic in the literature of the kkk for decades.

In fact, the investigation into the 1991 anthrax attacks was halted shortly after Australian Prime Minister Howard,(!) pointed out that the kkk were the most likely perpetrators, and that US energy to find out who was behind it should focus in that direction.

Everyone also knows that the kkk have re-branded themselves as the "tea party", members have referred to themselves as "tea-klux-baggers".

Yes, you do have the right to make fools of yourselves, but when you do, your denial of what everyone already knows is, to put it mildly, disingenuous.

You seem to think that "freedom of choice" should be limited to taking the cartel's collusive fixed deal, or have no insurance.

Call all the boogiemen you want, they all intend better for their people than the US does, with the exception of Stalin and Mao, whose tactics and agenda are identical to what is now known as "American conservatism", and otherwise known as ASPD.

We elected people to repudiate your version, because we don't like your version of choice which is basically "our way, which is no way, or no way, which is our way", and our vote is now beginning to bear fruit.

[SueZeeeQue]

Right wing terrorists are more of a threat than Al Qaeda.

[brianbwb2011]

the right wing leaders in the CIA created Al Qaeda.

[SueZeeeQue]

Just another daily illustration of how rabid and insane the right wing has become in this country.

[Westrogon]

I'll bet he sent it to himself. NYC politicians are capable of anything.

[kansas1946]

Looks like the toothless right-wing nut jobs are in good form. The Republican party has a great fan base.

[Scimajor]

I find it ironic that these kinds of people are all for hunting down the terrorists over in the Middle East yet they are quick to resort to terrorist tactics to express their opinion of the health care bill.

[stevex47]

The taliban, al qaeda, tea baggers, limbaugh, beck and republicans are all terrorists bent on making America fail.

Good will overcome the evil terrorists.

[taxchurches]

The atmosphere today in American politics is growing more and more like the 60s, but instead of idealistic hippie idiots, we now have militant wingnut loons in the street.

I love this stuff. Keep at it, teabagging scum! Whatever valid objections you have to healthcare reform are quickly becoming irrelevant. This is going to destroy the GOP. You are going away!

[pibrnj1]

voxy your a legend in your own mind