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FBI Confirms Ricin Letters; Obama Monitors Boston Probe

April 17, 2013

by Dan Robinson

As President Barack Obama closely monitors the federal investigation into Monday's Boston Marathon bombings, authorities are investigating letters, addressed to Obama and U.S. senators, that tested positive for the poison ricin based on preliminary results.

All mail sent to the White House and U.S. congressional offices is screened at remote locations.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that a letter addressed to Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi had tested positive for the poison ricin. There were reports of other letters addressed to other lawmakers.

The U.S. Secret Service and FBI confirmed Wednesday that a letter addressed to President Obama contained a granular substance that "preliminarily tested positive" for ricin.

The FBI said the letter was quarantined and undergoing additional testing. White House operations were not affected, and the FBI said there was no indication of a link to the attacks in Boston.

Questions about the intercepted letters and security in Washington dominated the opening minutes of Wednesday's White House news briefing.

But President Obama's main focus continues to be the federal investigation into the two bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured more than 170 others.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama head to Boston Thursday to participate in an interfaith service and meet with families and local officials.

Press secretary Jay Carney said the president has confidence in the government's probe.

"The president has faith in the FBI, which has the lead, and faith in the entire national security and Homeland Security team," said Carney. "It has not even been 48 hours, and it is important to allow for this investigation to proceed and to maintain the integrity of the investigation."

Obama had another briefing early Wednesday in the Oval Office from FBI Director Robert Mueller and other officials on the progress in the Boston investigation and security measures being taken across the country.

The president has vowed to bring to justice those found to be responsible for the Boston attacks, adding that Americans will not be terrorized.