NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Hazmat units responded to Rep. Ritchie Torres' congressional office in the Bronx on Friday after his team received an envelope containing a "suspicious substance."
Torres posted about the incident on social media, confirming that his staff immediately contacted the FBI, NYPD, and FDNY, "all of which responded promptly."
Police said that the white powder was discovered when a letter was opened at the office on East Fordham Road, located between Lorillard Place and Bathgate Avenue in Belmont, at about 1 p.m.
Earlier today, my Congressional Office received an envelope containing a suspicious substance. My team immediately notified the FBI, NYPD, and FDNY, all of which responded promptly. The FDNY tested the substance and determined that it was non-hazardous. We have since turned over the envelope to the FBI, and an investigation is ongoing.We are living in a time when threats against elected officials and their staff have become the new normal. Although my team is understandably shaken by the incident, we will not be deterred from serving the people of NY-15 in the Bronx.
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) October 16, 2026
According to Torres, the FDNY tested the substance and determined it was "non-hazardous"; it has since been given to the FBI, where it will be analyzed. The investigation is ongoing.
"We are living in a time when threats against elected officials and their staff have become the new normal," Torres said. "Although my team is understandably shaken by the incident, we will not be deterred from serving the people of NY-15 in the Bronx."
The incident comes after federal officials said they were looking into "suspicious" letters mailed to state election officials and congressional offices.
