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Anthrax: FBI Searches Home of Former USAMRIID Scientist FBI agents searched the apartment of a former U.S. scientist yesterday as part of the bureau’s “Amerithrax” investigation into last fall’s anthrax attacks (see GSN, June 24). The scientist, Steven Hatfill, agreed to the search in an attempt to remove himself from a list of possible suspects, a law enforcement official said. Hatfill has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been identified as a suspect, according to the Baltimore Sun. Hatfill worked at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Md., for about two years during the late 1990s (Scott Shane, Baltimore Sun, June 26). “This was a consensual search for which the only qualification was potential access to anthrax,” a law enforcement official said (Gretchen Parker, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, June 26). The FBI found no evidence that connected Hatfill to last fall’s attacks, according to law enforcement officials. Hatfill said he feels he is the target of a witch-hunt by authorities. “I’ve got a letter from the FBI that says I’m not a suspect and never was,” he said. “I just got caught up in the normal screening they were doing, because of the nature of my job” (David Johnston, New York Times, June 26). The FBI search occurred a week after Hatfill’s name was discussed during a meeting between Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, a biologist at the State University of New York who has closely followed the investigation, and members of the staffs of Senators Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), according to the Hartford Courant (see GSN, May 21). FBI agents also attended the meeting, sources said. Rosenberg has tried to prompt the FBI to investigate Hatfill for several reasons, the Courant reported. Five biological weapons experts previously gave the FBI Hatfill’s name, according to Rosenberg. Hatfill also has access to a cabin in Maryland and the knowledge needed to produce weapon-grade anthrax, according to the Courant. Hatfill also lost his position at USAMRIID under questionable circumstances and lost a later job at a defense contractor because he had his security clearance revoked, the Courant reported. FBI agents previously searched Hatfill’s apartment and his car late last year, the Courant reported, but no traces of anthrax were discovered (Altimari/Dolan, Hartford Courant, June 26). For further information, see: CDC Frequently Asked Questions on Anthrax GSN Anthrax Attack Chronology (Dec. 12, 2001)
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