Senate Offices Close after Suspected Deadly Toxin found in Mailroom

February 3, 2004

Senate Offices Close after Suspected Deadly Toxin found in Mailroom
February 03, 2004 – According to CNN, much of the U.S. Senate complex will be closed today following the discovery of a white, powdery substance in the mailroom of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. A series of tests conducted late Monday evening identified the substance as ricin, a deadly toxin for which there is no known antidote.

The substance was found about 3 p.m. ET Monday on the south side of the fourth floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Sixteen people who were exposed to the substance were decontaminated as a precautionary measure. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or illness as a result of the contamination.

The Capitol building will be open today for essential personnel only. The Hart, Dirksen and Russell Senate office buildings will be closed Tuesday and all tours are canceled until further notice. For further details, visit the U.S. Senate Web site at http://www.senate.gov/ or contact the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation at http://www.washington.org/.