Vancouver man faces more charges in threatening letters case

A Vancouver man accused of sending threatening letters to members of Congress faces additional charges.

A federal grand jury this week issued a superseding indictment charging Christopher Lee Carlson with 12 counts of sending threatening letters. Carlson had earlier been charged with sending the letters, that may have contained lethal pathogens, to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

The new charges relate to letters to Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

A hearing to determine whether Carlson should remain in custody was set for Thursday, April 5. The 39-year-old has a June trial date.

The two counts arose from an investigation into the mailing of about 100 envelopes containing white powder. The U.S. attorney’s office in Portland said the letters, postmarked in Portland, have tested negative for toxic substances.

The letters came to light in late February.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.