Ricin Sent to White House and Senate

CNN is reporting that a letter to President Obama that was intercepted at an off-site facility has tested positive for ricin, the FBI says. The envelope, addressed to the White House, was immediately quarantined by U.S. Secret Service personnel and a coordinated investigation with the FBI was initiated.  The FBI said White House operations were not affected.The letter was intercepted Tuesday, the same day that a letter to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker was intercepted at an off-site facility and tested positive for ricin.

CNN is also reporting that parts of the U.S. Capitol are being cleared after authorities announced suspicious packages on the first and third floors of the Hart Senate Office Building and a suspicious envelope in the Russell Senate Office Building at the office of Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. Capitol Hill Police are questioning a man with a backpack in the area of the Hart office building. The man raised suspicion with the content of his backpack and how he responded to police questions, two Capitol Hill police officers said. The man's backpack contained more sealed envelopes, one of the officers said.  One of the Capitol Hill police officers on the scene said the backpack is being X-rayed.