After a small detour of checking in Springfield the Keyes mail bomb scare led me to the Police Department of Stafford, Texas–a Houston Suburb where Keyes contribution processing is done. Detective Veratto was very helpful and filled in the details.
This was the first call to the police department, so the human waste story may have occured, but if it did, it was not reported to the police. The Stafford PD says the company reports that they receive lots of strange things there, but that this was the first package that necessitated a police call in 15 years. The company declined to comment. I have a call into the Keyes campaign.
The package that aroused suspicion was a heavy letter with a lot of mass at the bottom of a business return envelope. Alert to potential dangers, the local police were called. The police examined the item and called the local fire department. The local fire department responded and suggested calling the Houston Bomb Squad which then x-rayed the package to ensure it was safe. The FBI was also notified. It turned out to be a railroad spike.
All of this is a reasonable reaction given concerns over such packages, but what is interesting and certainly contrary to the impression of the e-mail sent by the Keyes campaign, is that letter contained no threats–in fact the envelope only contained the spike. No crime was committed in this case. It was an obnoxious prank, but just that–an obnoxious prank.
There is no threat and the mailing of a railroad spike is not illegal. It does however cost the Keyes campaign a fair amount of postage and it obviously is stupid for the very reason of the problems it created for a business.
There appears to be no indication of criminal intent, but my own guess is that someone was mailed a direct mail solicitation, didn’t like Alan and decided to cost him some extra cash on the return.
IOW, the Keyes campaign decided to stretch the story to try and wring some donations out of people. That’s class.
Now back to other election related trivia.
UPDATE: Fixed numerous errors in grammar.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
One has to wonder if the asshole actually read the plastic crap he carries around with him.
I’ve heard the postal service will accept bricks with business envelopes taped to them. And if Keyes gets enough, he can build a little hut beneath his favorite troll bridge.
And I’m fine with that, just don’t enclose them because then you cause a lot of people hassles who don’t deserve them.
Stupid prank. Stupid overreaction.
What a story, though. It shows just how different from a real Senate campaign this one is — their mail is being processed out of state. I don’t know a single campaign that sends their checks out of state for processing; most — even statewide campaigns raking in millions — want the checks sent to their office, to deposit ASAP.
It sounds like Keyes is using this campaign as an extension of his Renew America fundraising activities. I hope he was careful about the legalities.
Has anyone considered the possibility it was a show of support?
“They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalms 22 :16).
Just saying…