Suspicious Powder Found At Manhattan DA’s Office As Possible Trump Indictment Looms

Topline

A suspicious white powder was discovered inside an envelope Friday at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, a New York police spokesperson told Forbes, which has been the site of an ongoing grand jury investigation into former President Donald Trump.

Key Facts

The envelope was reportedly marked “Alvin”—suggesting it was intended for District Attorney Alvin Bragg—and was opened by someone in the mailroom around 1 p.m., who was not exposed.

The letter read: “ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!” according to NBC News, which reported the FBI is now investigating.

The situation was “immediately contained” and authorities later determined the powder was not dangerous, DA spokeswoman Danielle Filson said.

It’s unclear if the powder’s delivery is at all related to Trump—New York courts spokesman Lucian Chalfen told Forbes the situation is “being investigated.”

Surprising Fact

The discovery came three days after a bomb threat shut down the courthouse at 60 Centre Street just as a hearing in a case involving a $250 million civil lawsuit against Trump was set to begin. Authorities said there was no indication the threat was directly related to the Trump case.

Key Background

Trump blasted Bragg in a Truth Social post early Friday morning, while warning of “potential death & destruction” if he is indicted—in the latest of his now daily attacks against the DA. Multiple reports suggest a Manhattan grand jury wrapping up a years-long investigation will indict the former president over an alleged hush money payment given to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 to keep her from going public about an alleged affair she had with Trump, but the timing remains unclear since the panel has been dismissed until at least Monday. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and has repeatedly called the investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

Tangent

Trump personal attorney Evan Corcoran testified before a D.C. grand jury Friday as part of a federal special counsel investigation into Trump’s potential mishandling of classified documents. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered Corcoran to testify last week, in a ruling piercing his attorney-client privilege claims over allegations Trump lied to him about the existence of some classified documents. ABC News reported Friday that Howell ordered former top Trump aides like Mark Meadows, John Ratcliffe and Dan Scavino to testify in the special counsel’s January 6 investigation, shooting down an argument that executive privilege shielded them from participating in the probe. Trump also faces a criminal probe in Georgia over his attempt to overturn the presidential election results and multiple criminal investigations in New York state for alleged financial fraud.

Further Reading

Bomb Threat Shuts Down Manhattan Court Before Trump Lawsuit Hearing (Forbes)

Key Trump Attorney Testifying In Mar-A-Lago Case Friday—Here’s Why It Could Be A Big Deal (Forbes)

DOJ Thinks Trump Deceived His Lawyers About Classified Documents, Report Says (Forbes)

Trump’s Golf Club Now Faces Criminal Investigation—As Legal Troubles Mount For Former President (Forbes)

Trump Tries To Block Georgia Election Investigation As Criminal Charges Loom (Forbes)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/24/suspicious-powder-found-at-manhattan-das-office-as-possible-trump-indictment-looms/