CHEYENNE — Wyoming was included in a string of threats made against secretaries of states across the country Monday, prompting the evacuation of a state office building next to the Capitol.
The entire Herschler Building East was evacuated after a letter containing a white powder was found in the Secretary of State’s Office.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray said his office contacted law enforcement immediately and the building was cleared as the substance is evaluated by law enforcement. He did not immediately answer any follow up questions.
Similar threats were also made Monday with the secretaries of state offices in Nebraska and Iowa. In Nebraska, a suspicious envelope was found, while in Iowa, there was a “suspicious parcel.”
There was no mention of a white substance found in either of those states, according to news releases.
Election workers in several battleground states have reported receiving almost daily threats about their management of the presidential election. Gray also received a threatening voicemail earlier this summer.
Scene Of The Evacuation
A state of Wyoming employee estimated to Cowboy State Daily there are about 100-110 employees who work in the Herschler Building East. On Monday, around 75 people were milling around or laying on the grass under sunny skies in mild temperatures after being evacuated at about 11:30 a.m.
Around noon, a bomb squad carrying hazmat tubes on their backs entered the building. There was chatter on their dispatch radios about the white powder being secured for the FBI to inspect and a bomb-sniffing dog being called in.
Three fire trucks and an ambulance were stationed outside.
Department of Education employees Ellis Roberts (left) and Miranda Aumack lounge in the sun after a letter with a mysterious white substance was found in their building. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
State of Wyoming employees mill around after the Herschler Building East was evacuated after receiving a threatening letter with a white powder Monday. A hazmat team responded to clear the threat. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
State of Wyoming employees mill around after the Herschler Building East was evacuated after receiving a threatening letter with a white powder Monday. A hazmat team responded to clear the threat. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
State of Wyoming employees mill around after the Herschler Building East was evacuated after receiving a threatening letter with a white powder Monday. A hazmat team responded to clear the threat. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily)
Who Was Affected?
The Herschler Building East not only contains the Secretary of State’s Office, but also the Wyoming departments of Education and Revenue, the state treasurer and state auditor’s offices.
State Auditor Kristi Racines and Director of Revenue Brenda Henson were among the people waiting around outside.
Henson and Rita Watson, a longtime employee with the Department of Education, said she had never seen an evacuation for a threat of this nature before.
“There were a few tornado and fire alarms,” she said. “There was a fire alarm when someone cooked their popcorn for too long.”
Watson said her department was informed about the threat by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper and quickly evacuated soon after. Highway Patrol is in charge of managing security on the Capitol grounds.
Just what the white power is or whether it presented any real danger was not known as of publication time.
Michael Pearlman, a spokesperson for Gov. Mark Gordon, said the governor has been briefed on the events at the Herschler Building and the FBI will take over the active investigation.
"Governor Gordon strongly condemns any attempt to intimidate or cause real harm to elected officials," Pearlman said. "Actions like these are an attempt to interfere with the democratic process."
Cowboy State Daily will update this story as more information is available.
