FBI looks for links in David Letterman, Craig Ferguson threats

The FBI is looking into any potential links between a threatening letter and white powder sent to Craig Ferguson and an Internet threat to David Letterman.

Officials stressed that they have no evidence of a connection but are looking into it. Both men host late-night talk shows on CBS.

"It's something we are going to look into," said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. "It will be part of our investigation if there is a link."

On Tuesday. two employees opened the letter at the CBS-TV studios in the 7800 block of Beverly Boulevard before taping of Ferguson's "The Late Late Show," the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Detectives from the LAPD's Major Crimes Division were investigating with the FBI and authorities in Europe, where the letter was believed to have originated, officer Karen Rayner said.

Earlier this month, an Internet jihadist threatened to cut out Letterman's tongue.

A contributor on a website using the name Umar al-Basrawi posted his threat in response to the late-night host's comments about the early June death-by-airstrike of Ilyas Kashmiri, Al Qaeda's alleged new leader after U.S. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan earlier this year.

ALSO:

Joe Francis, bodyguard charged in Hollywood party altercation 

Violence at Candlestick Park, Dodger Stadium spurs legislation

Mother of thrown baby placed on immigration hold, suicide watch

— Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Craig Ferguson at CBS studios earlier this year. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times