Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office was evacuated Friday after receiving a mysterious package with the return address of “United States Traitor Elimination Army.”
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office evacuated after arrival of mysterious package
The return address on package was “United States Traitor Elimination Army.” Simon issued a statement saying threatening election officials is unacceptable.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 27, 2024 at 8:16PM
Simon’s office said in a news release that similar packages had previously been sent to several elections offices throughout the country.
In Minnesota, the State Patrol, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating, Simon’s spokeswoman, Cassondra Knudson, said.
“Not fun, but we’ll get past this,” Simon texted about the threatening package his office received.
It was addressed to the office, but the news release gave no additional information about its size or appearance. Last week, offices in 15 other states received similar packages containing a mysterious white powder. Those remain under investigation.
In a written statement, Simon said that threatening election officials is unacceptable and can’t be tolerated.
“Our democracy depends on public servants who must be able to perform their duties free from fear, intimidation, or harassment,” he said. “This action is not deterring our work or determination to deliver another election that is free, fair, accurate, and secure.”
The package was delivered amid a tense presidential campaign season. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters have continued to claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Trump has yet to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election.
In his capacity as the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, Simon sent a letter on Sept. 17 raising awareness of threats to election officials. He sent the letter after officials elsewhere received the threatening packages.
Simon’s letter described the continuation of a “disturbing trend,” including a “second assassination attempt of a presidential candidate, and threatening and intimidating actions towards election officials.”
He said the national association has repeatedly condemned threats made to election officials and workers.
“This must stop, period. Our democracy has no place for political violence, threats or intimidation of any kind,” Simon wrote in the letter.
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