On Wednesday, several members of the Alabama House of Representatives received mail at the State House in Montgomery containing “expletive” and “pornographic” material in a targeted act of political harassment.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Speaker Ledbetter’s office confirmed those reports to Yellowhammer News. The State Bureau of Investigation says they have a person of interest and are actively investigating.
According to reports, only Republican members of the Alabama House received the material, and include State Reps. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook), Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), and Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga).
“On Wednesday, April 9, at approximately 9:14 a.m., Special Agents assigned to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) responded to the Alabama State House in Montgomery in response to suspicious letters which were addressed to members of the Alabama House of Representatives,” the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed on Wednesday.
SBI confirmed the individual letter included a number of pornographic images.
“ALEA Special Agents immediately identified a person of interest and are currently investigating. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing,” the agency reports. “It was brought to my attention this morning that a handful of House Members received packages in the mail containing expletive images and other inappropriate materials,” Speaker Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.
“These packages have been handed over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation. I appreciate all that ALEA does to protect members of the Legislature and have full faith in the agency’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation into this unfortunate matter.”
At 10:56 a.m. today, Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives John Treadwell acted quickly by sending an email out to all members instructing them to not open the suspicious letters he identified with a photo from House security.
“Please be aware that if you receive an envelope like the picture below from John H. Watson, Jr., it may contain inappropriate and elicit images. It appears that several members have received this mailing,” Treadwell wrote.
“Please DO NOT OPEN this envelope, but turn it immediately in to the Clerk’s Office or a House Security Member.”
According to a spokesperson for the Alabama Senate, as of this time, no members of the Senate were targeted.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
