FBI investigating bomb threats emailed to C. Oregon election offices, others around state; says ‘none credible thus far’
(Update: Crook, Jefferson counties also received threat)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The FBI confirmed Friday it's investigating bomb threats emailed to election offices across Oregon, including Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties a week ago, three days after the general election. It also said that “none of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far.”
Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison confirmed that his office was one of the counties that received the bomb threat by email last Friday, Nov. 8.
"We’ve also learned that many Oregon counties have reported receiving a bomb threat via email last Friday afternoon," Dennison said. "We’ve referred these threats to our partners in law enforcement, as well as the Secretary of State’s Office. "
Crook County Clerk Cheryl Seely said the county "did receive the email bomb threat just before closing last Friday. We followed all necessary procedures for this type of situation. I have since learned that most Oregon counties reported receiving a bomb threat via email that same day. There is an ongoing investigation in this matter."
Jefferson County Clerk Kate Zemke said her office also received the email and addressed the threat in similar fashion as Crook County.
In a statement Friday to NewsChannel 21, the FBI's Portland office stated:
"The FBI is aware of bomb threats emailed to election offices in Oregon. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far,"
"Election integrity is among the FBI’s highest priorities," they said. " We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to election officials and to protect our communities.
"As always, we urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to state or local law enforcement or submit tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov," the statement concluded.
Deschutes County officials had confirmed earlier this week that the County Services Building at 1300 NW Wall Street was evacuated around 5:30 p.m. last Friday due to a bomb threat by email, also sent to several other counties. Nothing was found and the building reopened.
Sheriff’s Sergeant Jason Wall told us that incident was “in no way related” to the suspicious package found Tuesday outside the state Department of Human Services offices in the same building – which brought out the Oregon State Police bomb squad, and turned out to be a package of “personal hygiene products.”
Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley told the Elkhorn Media Group a mass email bomb threat apparently was sent to all of Oregon’s county clerks' offices last Friday, but nothing suspicious was found.
On Election Day, Nov. 5., the FBI in Washington, D.C., reported similar incidents around the country. It said, "The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of those threats have been determined to be credible thus far."
NBC News reported that the hoax bomb threats on Election Day briefly disrupted voting in five battleground states, targeting at least 50 sites in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan, but no bombs were found.
