An Oklahoma man has been charged with mailing suspicious white substances to election officials across the country.
Robin Patrick Martin faces charges of conveying false or misleading information and hoaxes, as well as mailing threatening communications. The charges allege a nationwide effort to intimidate election officials and support President Donald Trump.
Starting on Sept. 16, 2024, multiple state election officials reported receiving mail containing a white, powdery substance and a three-page letter headed “DECLARATION OF WAR.” Officials in nearly every state have since received similar mailings over the past two years. Election officials provided some of the evidence, while federal authorities intercepted other letters in transit.
The letters bore a return address for the “The United States Traitor Elimination Army” in Takoma Park, Maryland. Some envelopes also had threatening messages written on them that could only be seen under ultraviolet light.
The letters cited the belief, promoted by some supporters of Trump, that the 2020 election was marred by voter fraud, along with similar concerns about the 2024 election.
Other envelopes included messages like “No US Jurisdiction!,” “Mailed from the Indian Nation,” and “Are you for us? Or against us?”
Another message read: “To FBI: What do you want for your children? Peace through strength or nuclear war? Use your common sense! Protect Trump! Protect the election! Protect Legal votes! Throw out illegal votes! That is the motive!”
The case was first reported by the Associated Press.
Investigators subpoenaed email and phone records listed for the address, tying it to a burner phone purchased at a Walmart Supercenter in Northwest Oklahoma City. Surveillance video showed an older white man matching Martin’s description purchasing the phone and driving away in a car registered to Martin.
Other items purchased at the same Walmart pointed to Martin’s involvement, including a booklet of stamps, privacy envelopes, along with tumeric, white vinegar and povidone-iodine, which are used to make invisible ink. Records from the phone also placed Martin at various postal distribution centers around the state.
The FBI and Department of Justice did not announce the case or issue a press release about the charges against Martin as of 1pm Tuesday. CyberScoop has reached out to both for comment.
