UPDATE: Suspicious letter at Levin’s Saginaw office

Update 10:10 April 18:

WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., released the following statement this morning to update the public on the suspicious letter received at his Saginaw on Wednesday:

“I have been advised by the FBI that preliminary testing by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Micro-Biology Laboratory in Lansing showed negative results in the suspicious letter received by my Saginaw office. The office is open as usual this morning. I want to express my appreciation to the local, state and federal authorities who responded to this incident so quickly and professionally.”

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Michigan Senator Carl Levin’s office in Sagniaw is closed while a suspicious letter received by staff there is being investigated.

4:33 p.m. UPDATE:

Senator Levin released the following statement late this afternoon to update the public on the situation at his Saginaw office:

“Law enforcement officials are performing tests on the suspicious letter that was delivered to my Saginaw office. We do not expect to learn at least a preliminary result of those tests until late tonight or tomorrow. The staffer who discovered the letter is being kept overnight at a local hospital for precautionary reasons, but has no symptoms. We do not know yet if the letter has any connection to suspicious mail sent to other public officials. I want to repeat how grateful I am to local, state and federal authorities who reacted so quickly and professionally, and especially to my Saginaw staff for being so vigilant.

“As a precaution, my Saginaw office will remain closed until further notice. Residents who would ordinarily contact my Saginaw office should contact my office in Detroit at (313) 226-6020.”

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1:10 p.m., April 17

Levin has released a statement about the situation:

“Earlier today, a staffer at my Saginaw regional office received a suspicious-looking letter. The letter was not opened, and the staffer followed the proper protocols for the situation, including alerting the authorities, who are now investigating. We do not know yet if the mail presented a threat. I’m grateful for my staff’s quick response and for government personnel at all levels who are responding.”

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This comes a day after a letter addressed to President Obama tested positive for the poison ricin at the White House’s remote mail-screening facility.

The U.S. Senate’s mail-handling facility also received a suspicious letter on Tuesday addressed to Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker.

Preliminary tests on the letter to Wicker came up positive for ricin, but the U.S. Capitol Police say it’s undergoing more extensive testing before the result is confirmed.