A 37-year-old Maine woman has been arrested for allegedly sending a threatening letter to Sen. Susan Collins, authorities said Monday.
(Win McNamee/Getty Images, FILE) Sen. Susan Collins talks to reporters on Capitol Hill, Sept. 17, 2018, in Washington.Suzanne Muscara, of Burlington, was arrested Friday with mailing “threatening communication” to Collins, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The letter, sent in October 2018, was leaking a fine white powder and contained a threat, according to federal prosecutors. Muscara allegedly sent the letter to Collins’ home in Bangor.
At the time her communications director said it was said to have been contaminated with ricin though tests later confirmed there was nothing toxic.
Senator Collins’s husband, Tom Daffron, today received a threatening letter that the writer claimed was contaminated with ricin, a highly hazardous substance which was used in a previous attack against the United States Senate. (1/4)
— Annie Clark (@annieclark25) October 16, 2018
The threatening letter was received by Collins’ husband, Tom Daffron, not long after Collins was criticized for her decision to vote for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
If convicted, Muscara faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
She was due to make an initial appearance in federal court in Bangor Monday at 2:30 p.m.
In announcing her arrest federal prosecutors said nothing about Muscara’s motive.
It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
