Politics can be a messy game. But no one expected this.
And panic broke out after this Republican candidate was blindsided by a lethal threat.
On Tuesday, Kari Lake’s Arizona Senate campaign office faced an alarming situation when a staff member opened an envelope containing a suspicious substance and a chilling note that warned of anthrax.
The incident took place at one of Lake’s Phoenix offices, where the envelope reportedly contained a note with the words “caution anthrax,” according to Fox News.
The campaign immediately contacted local authorities, prompting a swift response from a hazmat team, firefighters, and law enforcement. Staff members were evacuated as the situation unfolded.
In a statement addressing the incident, Lake referenced previous attacks on her campaign, standing firm against any attempt to intimidate her.
“The radical left, with help from the mainstream media, has escalated its attacks against me from baseless smears and legal harassment to physical threats. Today, my office received a suspicious envelope, potentially containing anthrax — an attempt to intimidate and silence me,” Lake stated.
“This isn’t just about me; it’s an attack on our movement. I won’t be intimidated, and those responsible must be brought to justice. The time to unite against these dangerous, un-American tactics is now.”
Tiffany Marie Brannon, a campaign strategist who was present at the office, gave a detailed account of the incident to the Washington Examiner.
“A girl on our staff was just doing her job and opening financial donation letters in our office after our staff meeting had ended, when she opened this one it had some kind of a powdery substance in it and on the paper,” Brannon explained.
“Then, she saw that the paper in the envelope had written on it that it was anthrax. I believe it said ‘anthrax spores’ or some iteration of that. The note conveyed that the sender was fully aware of the powdery substance, that it was intentionally placed in the envelope, and then told us in writing that it was a deadly substance.”
Brannon went on to praise the calm and composed response of a senior staff member present at the time. “He kept everyone calm and was like, ‘Unfortunately, we have dealt with this kind of thing before – no one move, don’t let anyone else come into the office, I’m calling the police and authorities, don’t worry it will all be OK.’”
She described the unnerving wait for authorities: “At that point, no matter how much grit or bravery you have, you sort of start to internally hyperventilate. You google symptoms. You start to wonder if you are breathing OK, if your chest feels odd, or if your skin is itching. You start to slightly panic. You’re wondering how close you were to the powder in the air and how much you could have inhaled. Fear is real.”
Brannon also expressed frustration over the nature of the threat, adding that many of the staff present were women with families.
“So then you get mad and think, ‘What kind of person does this to another human being? Over what? Politics? Difference of opinions?’”
Fortunately, after testing, the Phoenix Police Department confirmed that the powder was non-hazardous.
No injuries or health issues were reported among the campaign staff, and they were able to return to the office later that day.
“There were no immediate threats to the community, and the occupants of the building will be allowed access shortly. Investigators have been assigned,” the Phoenix Police Department said in a statement.
This incident highlights the tension and danger surrounding political campaigns, but Lake’s campaign remains resolute in its determination to continue undeterred.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
