An investigation is underway by the FBI regarding a letter containing a white powder that was sent to Speaker Mike Johnson’s church in Louisiana, where his wife has an office.
Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, La., received a package deemed suspicious on Monday, as confirmed by Johnson’s office.
Johnson and his family are dedicated members of the church, and Kelly, the speaker’s wife, works as a pastoral counselor with an office on the premises.
According to the FBI, a field test of the substance did not reveal any harmful components, but additional testing will be conducted. The agency emphasized that sending a hoax letter is a serious offense.
Law enforcement informed a local news outlet that the administrative office was evacuated and the state police HazMat unit was dispatched to investigate.
Officials have not disclosed the intended recipient of the letter or provided any information about the substance.
Speaker Johnson Acknowledges Law Enforcement Response to Suspicious Package at Home Church
According to a statement from Griffin Neal, Speaker Johnson was informed about a suspicious package sent to his home church in Louisiana.
‘Speaker Johnson and the Johnson family express their gratitude to the US Capitol Police, the FBI, the Louisiana State Police, and the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office for their prompt response and professional handling of the situation.’
‘As the investigation is ongoing, all further questions will be directed to the law enforcement authorities managing this case,’ he continued.
The Johnsons have extensive experience leading marriage retreats and teaching Sunday school for their church. Mrs. Johnson is dedicated to promoting faith-based heterosexual marriage and advocating against abortion.
Prior to providing faith-based counseling services, she was a teacher at Providence Classical Academy, an evangelical school.