A Mississippi man whose home and business were searched as part of an investigation into poisoned letters sent to President Barack Obama and others has been arrested.

FBI spokeswoman Deborah Madden says 41-year-old Everett Dutschke was arrested today at his home in connection with the letters, which allegedly contained ricin.

They were sent last week to Mr Obama, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and earlier to an 80-year-old Mississippi judge, Sadie Holland.

Charges were initially filed against an Elvis impersonator but then dropped. Attention then turned to Dutschke, who has ties to the former suspect and the judge and senator.

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