U.S. Judge Warns Rumsfeld Could Face Contempt for Ignoring Anthrax Program Injunction

A federal judge has warned that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld could be held in contempt for pressing forward with mandatory military anthrax vaccinations despite a 1999 order by then President Bill Clinton requiring “informed consent” for inoculations, United Press International reported Tuesday (see GSN, Feb. 2).

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered Rumsfeld to “show cause by Feb. 28” why “he/or the government should not be held in contempt” for failing to follow the injunction.

The judge in October barred mandatory vaccinations. The Pentagon this month invoked emergency provisions in the Project Bioshield Act to restart the program.

Sullivan also told service members and Defense Department employees fighting the vaccine program to respond to an emergency motion by the Pentagon requesting modification of his earlier ruling (United Press International/Washington Times, Feb. 15).

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