A “suspicious package” initially believed to be anthrax was delivered to the floor of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office in the Capitol Annex Swing Space space on May 16, according to internal memos sent to those in the building.
The notice said the package came with a threat that it contained anthrax, which prompted officials to ask lawmakers and other staff members to evacuate the building.
However, it was later determined not to be anthrax or dangerous.
It is not clear how many people were inside the building at the time the package was discovered.
“While we have not confirmed the packet contains Anthrax, out of an abundance of caution, we are asking all staff and Senators to gather their belongings and leave the building as quickly as possible,” the memo stated.
Package ‘Not Anthrax or Dangerous’
In a statement, Mr. Newsom’s office said: “Our mail room intercepted a suspicious package containing an unknown substance that was labeled as anthrax.”“The building was evacuated and a specialist team swiftly tested the substance and confirmed that it was not anthrax or dangerous,” the governor’s office continued.
The governor’s office thanked first responders, including the California Highway Patrol, which has jurisdiction over the Capitol grounds and the Capitol Annex Swing Space, the Sacramento Fire Department, and the California Office of Emergency Services for their “quick response” to the incident.
The Epoch Times has contacted Governor Newsom’s office for further comment.
Mr. Newsom was in Italy at the time of the incident.
Earlier on Thursday, the Democrat spoke at the Vatican Climate Summit where he highlighted California’s “climate leadership” and called for “greater global partnership,” while urging world leaders to “protect democracy against the rise of extremism and in the face of climate deniers,” according to a press release from his office.
While in Vatican City, Mr. Newsom and his wife also had an audience with Pope Francis, his office said.
The area is “heavily trafficked by various contractors and employees,” according to Capitol Police. “It is also near offices such as Prisoner Processing, Crime Scene, Intel, and Reports Processing,” police said.
Testing of the bag yielded a positive result for cocaine, according to USCP.
That discovery is currently being probed by the USCP Investigations Division which will also conduct DNA testing of the bag, the agency said, noting that more information will be released on that incident as and when it becomes available.
