Anthrax I:  FBI Divided Over Former U.S. Army Biologist’s Role in Attacks

The FBI task force investigating the fall 2001 anthrax attacks is divided over the possible role of a former U.S. Army biologist who has been the public focus so far of the bureau’s investigation into the attacks, the Baltimore Sun reported today (see GSN, June 9).

Some within the FBI task force believe that Steven Hatfill is still a promising suspect, according to one official who is in regular contact with investigators.  Others, however, are frustrated that after more than a year-and-a-half, no substantial evidence linking Hatfill to the attacks has been found, according to the Sun.

As part of its investigation, the FBI has begun draining a pond located near Frederick, Md., where pieces of laboratory equipment were discovered during a series of searches that began late last year.  Agents are believed to be looking for additional pieces of equipment that might have been used to prepare the letters mailed in the attacks and authorities may also test for anthrax in soil samples taken from the bottom of the pond, according to the Sun. 

Some FBI officials, however, are unsure if the new effort will uncover anything, the Sun reported.

“Even the ones who favor draining the pond aren’t all that certain they’ll find anything,” the official said (Scott Shane, Baltimore Sun, June 10).

To help construct a day-by-day timeline of Hatfill’s activities, the FBI has obtained documents under a grand jury subpoena and has conducted interviews with hundreds of people, according to the Washington Post.  Bureau agents have also attempted to persuade people who know Hatfill, or who have worked with him, to offer information. 

In addition, the FBI has investigated whether Hatfill had any connection to several anthrax hoax letters that were discovered around the same time as the tainted letters used in the attacks, sources said.  Two of the hoax letters were mailed from Malaysia and London, where authorities have worked with the FBI to determine if they are connected to Hatfill or anyone associated with him, sources said.

The FBI has questioned Malaysian relatives and associates of Hatfill’s girlfriend, who came to the United States from Malaysia, sources said.  The FBI has also questioned relatives of Hatfill’s girlfriend who live in the Northeastern United States, the Post reported.

The London hoax letter was postmarked at the same time Hatfill was in a London suburb to attend classes for trainees in the U.N. weapons inspection program, according to the Post.  The FBI obtained records of Hatfill’s car rental at London Heathrow Airport and tracked his movements before and after the training classes, the Post reported.  Pat Clawson, a spokesman for Hatfill, said Hatfill used the car only to travel to and from the airport and did not enter London (Snyder/Thompson, Washington Post, June 10).

Clawson yesterday once again defended Hatfill, saying he was innocent of any role in the anthrax attacks.

“When Steve heard the news this morning, he just chuckled and shook his head that they would waste all that money,” Clawson said.  “They can search every pond in Maryland and drain the Pacific Ocean and they won’t find evidence linking Steve Hatfill to the anthrax attacks, because there is no such evidence.  On the other hand, if this will help further establish Steve's innocence, we welcome it,” Clawson added (Shane, Baltimore Sun).

Back to top

U.S. Response:  Democrats Criticize DHS Information Analysis

Several U.S. Democratic lawmakers yesterday questioned the Homeland Security Department’s ability to analyze the bioterrorist threat to the United States, saying the department’s poor analytical capability calls into question the $6 billion the White House wants to spend on Project Bioshield over the next decade (see GSN, June 3).

The department “is not remotely close to having the tools it needs to meet its critical mandate,” said Representative Jim Turner (D-Texas) in a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Project Bioshield is a $6 billion effort to stockpile medicines to respond to a bioterrorist attack.

“We can’t afford to make a multimillion-dollar mistake,” Turner wrote.

The “dysfunctional state” of the department’s Office of Information Analysis puts Project Bioshield’s direction in doubt, Turner said yesterday at a press conference.  The office has only one microbiologist and 25 analysts, according to Turner.

Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said officials plan to hire 85 more analysts, including four more microbiologists, by the end of September.

Representative Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said that analyzing the threat against the United States was critically important.

“If this system is broken, everything else at the department is treading on thin ice,” she said (Jim Abrams, Associated Press/Kansas City Star, June 9).

Turner said the information analysis office could not provide an assessment of bioterrorism threats.

Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) also criticized the new department and said that the disapproval was bipartisan.

“It was, I think, a very unpleasant surprise for all the members, including the Republicans, how little prepared this agency is.  At this point, it’s kind of a shell,” he said (Federal News Service transcript, June 9).

Back to top

Anthrax II:  U.S. Judge Sentences Grandmother to 10 Months in Halfway House for Hoaxes

A 69-year-old Massachusetts woman was sentenced last week to 10 months in a halfway house for mailing anthrax hoax letters (see GSN, Feb. 11).

Joyce Godbout, a grandmother of 10, pleaded guilty last year to mailing 18 death threats — some including a white powder — to Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly, members of his staff and a judge who were all involved in her 2001 conviction on Medicaid fraud charges, according to the Associated Press.  Godbout had originally been sentenced to serve a year at a halfway house, but a new policy later removed federal judges’ discretion in sentencing nonviolent offenders, AP reported. 

At Godbout’s resentencing hearing Thursday, U.S. Attorney Stephen Huggard called on the judge to sentence Godbout to at least 30 months in prison, despite her advanced age.

“The papers say that the government wants granny to go to jail. ... Well, granny should go to jail because granny is a terrorist,” Huggard said (Associated Press/TheBostonChannel.com, June 6).

Back to top

Anthrax:  FBI Begins Draining Maryland Pond in Anthrax Attack Investigation

The FBI announced today that it has begun to drain a pond near Frederick, Md., as part of the bureau’s investigation into the 2001 anthrax mail attacks (see GSN, May 30).

“The FBI and the U.S. Postal Service are conducting forensic searches on public land located near the city of Frederick, Maryland,” the FBI said in a press release.  “To facilitate the search activity, one pond will be drained,” it added (FBI release, June 9).

The area surrounding the 1-acre, 50,000-gallon pond will remain classified and restricted during the investigation, the city of Frederick said in a press statement today.  This stage of the bureau’s investigation is set to last up to four weeks, after which the FBI will fully restore the pond and surrounding area, according to the Frederick release.

The FBI is unsure as to how long it will take to drain the pond, bureau spokeswoman Debbie Weierman told Global Security Newswire today. 

A set of ponds located in the Maryland forest has been a focus of the FBI’s investigation into the attacks since late last year when the bureau first searched the ponds using divers.  The Washington Post reported last month that those pond searches uncovered several pieces of laboratory equipment, including what could be a box that would allow someone to manipulate material inside it while wearing gloves (Mike Nartker, GSN, June 9).

The searches also discovered a piece of rope, which investigators initially believed could have been used to anchor the box in the pond, USA Today reported last week.  Initial tests indictating traces of anthrax on the rope were later reversed, according to USA Today (Toni Locy, USA Today, May 28).

The stretch of forest where the pond being drained is located is near the former home of Steven Hatfill, a former U.S. Army biologist who has been the public focus of the FBI’s investigation into the anthrax attacks.  Hatfill has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks (Nartker, GSN).

Postal Service Delays Detection Equipment Tests

Meanwhile, the Postal Service has decided to delay tests in 14 cities of new anthrax-detection equipment, CNN.com reported May 30 (see GSN, May 27). 

The tests were originally scheduled to begin June 2.  More time is needed, however, to work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities in the test cities to develop guidelines for responding to test results, postal Vice President Azeezaly Jaffer said.  No new date for the tests has been announced (CNN.com, May 30).

Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP