Tables Turned In Anthrax Investigation

[stevedeshazer]

"Person Of Interest" Files Lawsuit Against FBI

(CBS) They followed him. They brought bloodhounds into his home. The attorney general identified him to the world as a "person of interest" in the first major bioterrorism attack in the nation's history.

But five years after letters sent through the U.S. mail containing anthrax killed five and injured 17, the FBI has yet to charge Dr. Steven Hatfill. In 2003, he sued the government.

The resulting depositions of FBI personnel and law enforcement records obtained by 60 Minutes provide an inside look into one of the FBI's biggest investigations ever and raise the possibility that the bureau may have a cold case on its hands.

<snip>

Hatfill is suing the government for destroying his reputation by, among other things, naming him "a person of interest." According to depositions taken for Hatfill's suit and obtained by 60 Minutes, the FBI official who oversaw the investigation says the bureau was looking at many more people.

"There were … 20 to 30 other people who were also likewise identified as 'persons of interest' in the investigation,' " the FBI's Richard Lambert says under oath.

60 Minutes has learned that today at least a dozen of those other people still have not been eliminated as so-called "persons of interest."

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/09/60minutes/main2552906.shtml

[yellerpup]

1. This is an important story.

K&R! :kick:

[lyonn]

2. FBI incompetence, bottom line.

Hatfill was no doubt a scapegoat.

We would all like to know who did this dastardly deed. Yet, Nothing! Too difficult for our intelligence agencies.

[stevedeshazer]

3. Since it was weapons-grade anthrax of the Ames strain,

the pool of people with access to it must be awfully small.

I don't think it's incompetence, I think it's a cover-up.

[annabanana]

6. I think you're right...

We should probably work from the targets, backwards...

(Hmmm, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, New York Post, National Enquirer, Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. . now who would want to intimidate this crowd?)

[stevedeshazer]

7. Sure as hell, no Republicans got anthrax in the mail.

Can you imagine if this happened when Clinton was President and a bunch of R's received these little love notes? Dan Burton would still be shooting watermelons in his back yard.

[Pawel K]

9. But was it proven it was actually weapon grade?

I read that this was disputed. Just curious.

[stevedeshazer]

11. Yes, here's a link

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/EPI/bioter/anthraxmatchesarmyspores.html

I was in the Baltimore Sun on 12/12/01. Since then, the story has just been hanging out there unresolved.

I'm not aware of any credible denial.

[Pawel K]

13. I read it on wikipedia. Thanks for the link, another example of wikiality

[FogerRox]

15. Bongo, we have a winner, Steve DeShazer

[Ganja Ninja]

4. It's about time we had hearings on this too.

So many crimes and so little time.

[stevedeshazer]

5. Six years worth of crimes w/ just two years left...that's a tall order

Long after the Bush Crime Family is out of office, this story will still be hanging out there, I bet.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. I'd be willing to see him finish his term.

Once that's over he still eligible for a jail term.

[Cerridwen]

8. Thanks...K & R and bookmarked so I can "follow along" with

this issue.

Something stinks horribly in the FBI.

[patricia92243]

12. Were the other people of interestl's name leaked to the press? n/t

[Morgana LaFey]

14. HOOORAY!

I never liked him, exactly, but I also never felt he had anything to do with the anthrax or much of anything else, either. I thought he was treated QUITE shabbily, as well.