FBI suspects powder mailed to Georgia congressman was tea

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) The FBI says a suspicious powder found in a letter mailed to a congressman's Savannah office was probably tea.

Stephen Emmett, spokesman for the FBI's Atlanta office, said Tuesday the letter received by Republican Rep. Buddy Carter's office may have been part of a ``tax protest movement mailing tea bags to congressional offices,'' though he said authorities aren't sure that was the motive.

Savannah authorities evacuated several buildings near Carter's office Monday as firefighters in hazard suits seized the suspicious envelope, performed air quality tests and used dogs to sniff for explosives. The office was closed for about two hours.

A similar letter prompted a temporary shutdown of Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson's office in DeKalb County last week. The FBI also determined the power in that letter was likely tea.