A suspicious package that prompted a bomb scare at the federal building and courthouse complex in downtown Oakland on Wednesday was meant to spark a large law enforcement response and contained a message for authorities, officials said.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad and the FBI responded about 12:40 p.m. to a report of a suspicious object at the complex, said Lt. Ray Kelly, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

A person had dropped a bag near a flag pole in front of the federal building, according to an FBI statement. A security officer noticed the bag and “determined it appeared to be suspicious.”

“In looking at this, this incident was designed to get this type of response,” Kelly said. “The person that left this package wanted this type of response.”

Employees were evacuated and authorities asked the public to keep away from the area, Kelly said.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet at 5:29 p.m. that the package was “rendered safe,” adding that it would conduct “an additional search around the federal building out of an abundance of caution.”

The package contained a “specific message for law enforcement,” Kelly said. That message and other evidence were turned over to the FBI.

“The FBI will continue to follow all logical investigative leads related to this incident,” the agency said. “To protect the integrity of the investigation, we have no additional information to provide at this time.”

Oakland police have reopened streets surrounding the federal building to the public, the FBI said.

The Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse complex houses U.S. District Court, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-19/bomb-squad-suspicious-device-at-oakland-federal-building

Six weeks after a grand jury indicted former US Capitol Police Officer Michael Riley on obstruction of justice charges, the Capitol Police Board thanked him for his 26-year service in a glowing farewell letter it now says was sent in error.

"Please accept our congratulations on your retirement from the United States Capitol Police," the Senate and House sergeants-at-arms, the architect of the Capitol and Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger wrote December 2, 2021.

"Your attention to duty, professionalism, and dedication are above reproach, and each serve as a tribute to your character. Your hard work will leave a lasting impression on the department for many years to come."

But on Thursday, after Riley pointed to the letter in a court filing, the US Capitol Police said it had been sent "in error." The department added it had "particular language, and pre-printed signatures," and that the agency was looking to make sure only officers who left the force in good standing would get them, according to a statement provided to CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/politics/capitol-police-indicted-officer-letter/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing the potential of losing control of Congress, President Joe Biden entered the midterm election year on Wednesday pledging to connect more frequently with voters and present a starker contrast with Republicans aiming to blunt his agenda.

During a nearly two-hour news conference marking his first anniversary in office, Biden promised to more frequently travel the country making a case that, despite persistent challenges during the pandemic, his administration has notched notable achievements. He repeatedly said he would use those opportunities to blast the GOP as standing for little more than opposition to him.

https://apnews.com/bbacf840fda37108856333664e955f9a

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