Matthew Unglesbee Says Powder Was Salt
The Congress letter suspect told the FBI he mailed salt as a joke; testing found no toxins.
October 27, 2026 · Updated Oct 27, 11:30am ET
Los Angeles TimesIllinois man charged with mailing white powder to members of Congress
Chicago Sun-TimesFeds say Quincy man mailed letters containing white powder to members of Illinois congressional delegation
FOX NewsIllinois man accused of threatening Congress with white substances in letters marked with his return address
The GuardianIllinois man arrested after allegedly sending suspicious powder to Congress members using his return address
UPIMan charged with mailing threatening letters to Illinois lawmakers
Epoch TimesIllinois Man Charged With Mailing Threatening Letters Containing White Powder to Lawmakers
HuffPostIllinois Man Accused Of Mailing White Powder To Members Of Congress
NewsNationIllinois man charged in white powder letters sent to members of Congress
Joe.My.God.COPS: Man Mailed White Powder To Top Democrats
45%
Left · 4
33%
Center · 3
22%
Right · 2
Pano rates the coverage Balanced.
What happened
Matthew Unglesbee told the FBI he mailed salt to congressional offices as a joke. The Quincy, Illinois, man was federally charged with mailing threatening communications and making false information or hoaxes after four white-powder letters went to Congress. The letters went to offices in northern Illinois, including three House members’ offices and a senator’s office. The investigation began after an anonymous tipster said they overheard Unglesbee discussing suspicious mailings to members of Congress. Unglesbee denied involvement in similar mailings outside Illinois. Investigators said the letters bore his return address and mocking notes. Preliminary tests found no toxins, and staff did not open them. A detention hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
How the left told it
Left-leaning outlets framed the case as a fear-inducing hoax rather than a harmless prank. The Los Angeles Times stressed that harmless powder could still prompt anthrax fears and emergency response. The Guardian lingered on the suspect’s apparent self-identification through the return address.
How the right told it
Right-leaning outlets treated the case as a criminal threat to Congress, not an innocuous prank. Fox News emphasized the felony charges and the suspect’s apparent self-identification through the return address. The Epoch Times cited the filing’s claim that the joke knowingly exploited anthrax fears.
Congress Powder Letter Case
Part of the storyline · Storyline →- Oct 27Matthew Unglesbee Says Powder Was Salt (this story)Balanced
- Oct 26Congress White Powder Suspect ChargedMostly Center
