Statement from Senator Collins on Threatening Letter to Bangor Home

Annie Clark, spokesman for Senator Collins, issued the following statement:

“Senator Collins’s husband, Tom Daffron, today received a threatening letter that the writer claimed was contaminated with ricin, a highly hazardous substance which was used in a previous attack against the United States Senate.  Mr. Daffron, their dog, and parts of their home were quarantined while the crime lab undertook an analysis of the premises.  The affected areas have now been cleared, and Senator Collins and Mr. Daffron will be able to remain at home tonight.

“The testing of the letter, as well as the investigation into its origins, remain ongoing.

“Today’s incident is the latest in a series of threats against Senator Collins, her loved ones, and her staff.”

Senator Collins and Mr. Daffron issued the following statement: 

“We are very grateful for the immediate and professional assistance that we received from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Crime Lab, the Maine State Police Department, the Capitol Police, the FBI, the Orono Hazmat Unit, the Bangor Fire Department, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  We are also truly appreciative of the many well wishes that we received today.  Our friends and neighbors have been incredibly kind and have even offered to open their homes to us.  We feel blessed to live in such a supportive community.”