Police, Secret Service investigate report of suspicious substance at Clinton's NYC office

NEW YORK (AP) -- Police and Secret Service agents determined Friday that a suspicious substance found at former President Clinton's office in Manhattan was not toxic.<br/><br/>A staff member opened

Friday, October 27th 2006, 9:39 pm

By: News On 6

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

A staff member opened a package delivered to the former 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.

The office was evacuated briefly in April 2004 after a worker opened a package containing a suspicious powder, which authorities later determined was not toxic.