Powder at Clinton office not toxic

updated 9:25 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2006

NEW YORK - Police and Secret Service agents determined Friday that a suspicious substance found at former President Clinton's office in Harlem was not toxic.

A staff member opened a package delivered to the president's office that contained a white powdery substance and a letter and called authorities, said Secret Service spokesman Richard Staropoli. He described the letter as a "rambling diatribe."

Clinton was not at the office at the time because he was attending events for his three-day birthday bash, a fundraising event for his foundation. His birthday was in August.

"The situation has not affected the president or Mrs. Clinton in any way whatsoever," Staropoli said.

Police and emergency crews were called to the Harlem office building around 3:45 p.m. Yellow police tape blocked off the sidewalk in front of the building, but traffic was not disrupted.

Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said the building was not evacuated. He had no other details.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said a field test on the substance found it to be inert.

Clinton signed a 10-year lease for the 8,300-square-foot penthouse floor of the 14-story building in 2001.

The city's Administration for Children's Services has a field office on four lower floors of the building.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

NYT: Cheney linked to hiding of CIA project Newsweek: Will YouTube be big mistake for Google? Newsweek: Meet the two Sotomayors Ex-CIA boss: Congress knew of surveillance Obama rejects idea of 2nd stimulus Iranian-Americans rally at White House Could Obama be a one-term president?   Obama heralds Africa’s ‘moment of promise’ NYT: Ghana visit points to Africa's instability Obama's visit to fort a 'full-circle experience' Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: