CBS lot evacuated after threatening letter to ‘Dancing With the Stars’

The FBI is investigating a letter containing white powder that was received at CBS Studios in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said an initial screening indicates the substance was not hazardous, but the letter will be taken to a regional lab for further testing.

Eimiller said the envelope was opened by mailroom staff and also contained a threatening letter. She would not comment as to whom the letter was addressed.

Hazardous-materials officials with the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles police, firefighters and the FBI responded to the studios at 4:50 p.m., according to Los Angeles police spokesman Bruce Borihanh. He said authorities were clearing the scene shortly before 9 p.m.

KCAL-TV Channel 9 reported that the letter was found in the mailroom for the ABC show “Dancing With the Stars,” which is staged on the CBS lot. The celebrity website TMZ.com reported the letter was addressed to Bristol Palin, who has been competing on the show.

Late Friday, ABC spokeswoman Amy Astley released a statement confirming that the envelope was delivered to the show's production office on the CBS Studios lot.

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

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Comments

[MissButterfly]

The lefties are even more unhinged than I thought they were!
In my 62 years, I've never seen the family of a politician being maligned like this - disgusting!

[uncle_vito]

Another kook liberal going after a Palin.

I would do it for the show. It is so bad. Only trailer trash watch it.

[Rita]

What a world we live in now! Bristol Palin was invited to participate with DWS, she did not ask for this kind of thing to go on. It is very disgusting and I think she will have more support now than ever!

[Astaire]

The odds are 1000 to 1 that some braindead tea-bagger sent the letter in an attempt to convince people that folks against bristol palin are as crazy as they are.

[diaper rash]

Could someone please explain why the entire lot was evacuated?

If the white powdery substance found in the letter was not considered to be hazardous, then was the wording of any written message sent to the D.W.T.S. production office grounds for evacuating the entire lot?

Will any marginal increase in ratings for D.W.T.S. resulting from the sensational P.R. of this event translate to an increase in ad revenue for ABC?

If so, will someone please make sure that any extra money they make off this hoopla be used to reimburse the city for the emergency services so lavishly dispatched.

Also, please let all the responders know that the taxpayers will be very upset if
there is another nebulous threat issued next Thursday or Friday in their service area resulting in an "all shifts remain on duty order".

Imagine what the cost for two weeks pay with No Days Off and Double Overtime with Holiday differential is going to cost us?

[Anita189]

Even if you were a politician or just a citizen, they have the right to be safe. I think whoever sent that was a disgrace. Everyone has their own opinions, if people disagree with you don't sent them hate mail, is a free country and we have freedom of speech.