VP Biden's Brother Out Of Hospital After Powder Scare
BOYNTON BEACH (CBS4) - Vice President Joe Biden's younger brother and his girlfriend have been released from the hospital after opening a package on Saturday which contained a powdery substance.
The envelope was mailed to Francis Biden's Ocean Ridge home.
Biden, 57, said his girlfriend got the manila envelope from his mailbox Saturday afternoon, but it was addressed to him, and he opened it.
"It was mailed from India," Biden said.
A white powder spilled from the envelope and onto his skin, Biden said.
He said he immediately called authorities, who evacuated neighbors and closed off the street. Boynton Beach Fire-Rescue, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office bomb squad, the county fire-rescue's hazardous materials team, the U.S. Postal Service and the Secret Service responded to the call.
The bomb squad determined the package was not explosive.
The FBI issued a statement Saturday saying, "Preliminary tests indicate the contents of the package were deemed not to be threatening in nature."
Biden and his girlfriend were taken to a hospital. The woman was released Saturday and Biden was released Sunday morning.
"I was the only one who came in contact with the powder so they kept me," he said. "I'm fine."
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
