LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky sheriff's office says a suspicious package sent to the home of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul appears to contain a non-toxic substance.
"I take these threats immensely seriously," Sen. Paul stated in a tweet on Monday." As a repeated target of violence, it is reprehensible that Twitter allows C-list celebrities to encourage violence against me and my family."
I take these threats immensely seriously. As a repeated target of violence, it is reprehensible that Twitter allows C-list celebrities to encourage violence against me and my family. https://t.co/e1rQ6uwPdf
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 24, 2021
The FBI says it's providing forensic and technical assistance in the investigation.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office says it was contacted by Capitol Police on Monday regarding a suspicious package delivered to Paul’s home in Bowling Green. The package was taken to the Bowling Green Fire Department and a preliminary analysis identified the substance as non-toxic, the sheriff's office said. It did not identify the substance.
The substance and package will undergo further analysis, the sheriff's office said.
Paul's wife, Kelley, tweeted that she “got the death threat letter” and called the FBI.
“This kind of violent threat is fomented against Rand daily,” she tweeted.
Paul was injured in 2017 when a neighbor tackled him while the lawmaker was doing yard work. Paul suffered broken ribs and eventually underwent lung surgery after he had struggled with what turned out to be a lingering infection in the damaged lung.
Paul has been outspoken during the coronavirus pandemic, saying that masks should no longer be necessary after vaccination. Paul tested positive for the virus in 2020. He recently said he won’t be getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but added that he might change his mind if people who previously contracted the disease are getting reinfected at a greater rate than those who are vaccinated.
Paul is running for a third term in next year's elections.
