CHICAGO () — Federal authorities have charged a 37-year-old Quincy man after suspicious letters containing a white substance were mailed to four Illinois members of Congress, triggering emergency responses at their Chicago-area offices.
Investigators said Matthew Unglesbee told the FBI that he meant the mailings as a joke. He also said he was inspired by other threatening letters sent to elected officials across the country.
The letters were sent to the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Each contained a white substance that Unglesbee reportedly told the FBI was salt.
“My staff didn’t buy into this. They were there for a long time terrified. That could have been a very threatening incident,” Quigley said.
The FBI arrested Unglesbee at his home in Quincy, authorities said. Investigators determined that the letters were mailed from Quincy and postmarked in Springfield.
Authorities said every envelope included a handwritten message reading either “HA HA” or “HAH enjoy the gift.”
Investigators said Unglesbee wrote his name and return address on the envelopes. The FBI was also contacted by an anonymous tipster who allegedly overheard Unglesbee discussing the mailings at a restaurant.
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“We’re in a climate where threats and intimidation like this have become normalized,” Quigley said.
In statements released Tuesday, Schneider thanked law enforcement “for treating this investigation with the seriousness it deserves.”
Schakowsky said, “I will not let threats stand in the way of serving the people of the 9th District.”
Quigley said the incident would not prevent his office from continuing its work.
“My office is open, accessible, ready for business, and we’re not going to let anyone intimidate us and move forward in the democratic process,” he said.
Unglesbee faces charges only in connection with the four letters sent last week. Authorities said they continue to investigate who may be responsible for other mailings targeting elected officials across the country in recent weeks.
