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jesusluvspegging · 2009-02-27 12:25:16

In the weeks leading up to Obama's inauguration, Saad Hussein, an Ethiopian refugee in his late 20's, sent an envelope addressed to "Barack Obama" to offices of the Illinois government in Springfield, Ill., according to court documents. The envelope contained a series of unusual items, including a letter with reddish stains and an admission ticket for Obama's election-night celebration in Chicago's Grant Park. Court documents said Hussein, who takes drugs to treat a mental illness, later told FBI agents he is "very sick with HIV" and cut his fingers with a razor so he could bleed on the letter.

Hazmat teams were called in after the envelope was opened, and offices of the Illinois Department on Aging and the Department of Revenue were locked down for nearly two hours, locking 300 staffers in their offices, court documents said.

pALEPHx · 2009-02-27 20:20:36

HIV dies quickly on surfaces. The time it took for the letter to arrive was more than enough to kill the virus. Additionally, it's nearly impossible to get the disease through skin contact (unless Obama's letter interceptors are reading something coated in fresh blood, with open sores or cuts on their fingers). I'm just sayin', I didn't see the need for a whole Hazmat team. It's not like it's "mysterious white powder" or anything.

I think the Prez probably has more to fear about letters coming from "mysterious white power." Fnord, get those 'Forever stamps.'

Last edited by pALEPHx (2009-02-27 20:21:02)

tojo2000 · 2009-02-28 12:58:07

They probably didn't know it was blood until after they'd evacuated.

icangetyouatoe · 2009-02-28 13:14:44

Was he arrested because he was HIV positive and sending blood in the mail, or just because it was blood?

tojo2000 · 2009-02-28 13:21:33

icangetyouatoe wrote:
Was he arrested because he was HIV positive and sending blood in the mail, or just because it was blood?

Even though it wouldn't have worked, the crime he was charged with indicates that he intended for the President and Rahm Emmanuel to be infected. There isn't enough information to find out whether he wrote that in the letter, or how they came to that conclusion.