Governor Chet Culver’s office in the basement of the state capitol building was locked down around noon today after a suspicious letter was discovered.
The letter appears similar to those received recently by a dozen of so other governors around the country.
Culver’s staff would not describe the letter or its contents, but the letters in other states contained a white powdery substance that was not found to be harmful.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, F.B.I. and Iowa Department of Public Safety were joined by HAZMAT crews to investigate the letter. The office is the informal work office of the governor at the capitol, there is another formal office upstairs where the ceremonial bill signings and other business take place.