TWO SENT TO HOSPITAL AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUBSTANCE MAILED TO TED CRUZ’S HOUSTON OFFICE

  

Two people were sent to the hospital today (Tuesday) after being exposed to a white, powdery substance, which was found in a package sent to Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign office.

The package was addressed to the Phoenix Tower office building in Houston. Officials reported the incident around noon, saying the two exposed to the substance complained of nausea and tingling.

The Houston Fire Department (HFD) said that tests for hazardous substances in the powder came back negative.

The HFD says the ninth floor of the building was evacuated after finding the package. The evacuation order was lifted after 12:30 p.m.

The two that were hospitalized were not part of Cruz’s staff. Cruz’s campaign spokeswoman, Christine Frazier, said the item was mailed to the office, and that no campaign staff were affected.

Houston police, along with the FBI and United States Postal Service, are currently investigating.

This comes on the same day that authorities at the Pentagon said two suspicious packages were discovered at their mail screening facility.

Officials found two envelopes that were believed to contain ricin, a poison made from castor beans. Neither of the envelopes, which arrived at the facility on Monday, made it into the Pentagon.

It is undetermined if these incidents are related.