Vote 2024: Connecticut FBI on guard for election threats
A suspicious white powder was already mailed to state election officials. But the FBI says the biggest threat may be online disinformation.
Election Day is just weeks away. And while the candidates are out stumping, the FBI’s New Haven office is preparing for potential threats.
Here in Connecticut, we’ve already had one troubling incident.
WHITE POWDER
The threat actually came in the mail – an envelope containing a suspicious white powder mailed to the Secretary of the State's Office. It was intercepted at a mail sorting facility in West Hartford last month.
“The FBI takes every threat, whether it be elections or otherwise, seriously,” said Anish Shukla, the FBI New Haven office’s acting special agent in charge.
Similar letters were sent to election officials across the country.
“We’ve got, you know, a number of analytical resources to look at these, these powders or these residues with the FBI laboratory down in Quantico,” Shukla said.
PHYSICAL THREATS
A suspicious powder is one of the scenarios that the FBI trained for at a drill with state and local election officials in June. The group also planned for natural disasters or armed protesters that could disrupt voting.
“We considered everything from physical security at a polling location to cybersecurity issues,” said Brenda Bergeron, the deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
DANGEROUS DISINFORMATION
FBI leaders said the biggest cyber threat is disinformation, including Artificial Intelligence impersonating politicians – like this video produced by actor Jordan Peele:
But when do deceptive posts, protected by the First Amendment, become a crime? The FBI said it’s a fine line.
“Is the information about where an election – where you can vote? Is the place incorrect? Then we would be concerned,” said Kevin Hughey, FBI New Haven’s operational supervisor. “Threats to election workers, threats to infrastructure, threats to the integrity of the process, that is something we are keenly aware of.”
The threat environment could get worse. There have also been two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump. And as the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol proved, the biggest danger could come after Election Day.
“Election Day is just the middle,” Hughey said. “We will see this through after Election Day as well.”
YOU CAN HELP
You can report election threats or other suspicious activity to the FBI here: https://tips.fbi.gov/home
