FBI Briefs Senators on Anthrax Case

Roll Call ^ | 5/3/07 | Roll Call

[TrebleRebel]

FBI Briefs Senators on Anthrax Case

The FBI delivered a long-awaited briefing to key U.S. senators in March to describe the status of its investigation into the 2001 anthrax mail attacks, Roll Call reported yesterday (see GSN, March 5).

Lawmakers have criticized the bureau for refusing to provide briefings which stopped when officials said information was leaking to the media.

The attacks killed five people on the U.S. East Coast and many congressional offices were closed after anthrax-laced letters were sent to Capitol Hill.

Those receiving the March briefing included Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). Leahy was the addressee of one anthrax-tainted letter and Grassley has led the call for more FBI briefings.

“With the concurrence of [the Justice Department], the FBI briefed Senator Leahy on the Amerithrax investigation,” said special agent Richard Kolko in a Tuesday e-mail to Roll Call. “Senator Leahy was provided this brief due to his specific status as a victim in this case.”

Neither Leahy nor Grassley provided any substantive details of the briefing or of the investigation. The FBI has made no arrests in the case (see GSN, April 12).

“They say [the case is] active, and I hope it is,” Leahy said.

U.S. House lawmakers have also been seeking an anthrax investigation briefing but were not invited to the March briefing. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) said Tuesday that he would work to get more information (Jennifer Yachnin, Roll Call, May 3).

[TrebleRebel]

ping

[samadams2000]

“We have no reason to believe a person of Islamic faith had anything to do with this”..something along those lines Im sure.

[neodad]

Wasn’t Daschle another recipient?

[TrebleRebel]

Yes, I guess he didn’t get briefed since he no longer holds office.

[Cindy]

url/link for your article:

http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2007_5_4.html#FA848A02

[Shermy]

““They say [the case is] active, and I hope it is,” Leahy said.””

That’s not exactly 100% reassuring.

““With the concurrence of [the Justice Department], the FBI briefed Senator Leahy on the Amerithrax investigation,” said special agent Richard Kolko in a Tuesday e-mail to Roll Call. “Senator Leahy was provided this brief due to his specific status as a victim in this case.””

Do we see here any actual quotes Grassley was really briefed? The language here is the same that was used to preclude briefing of Grassley and Holt etc.

[trumandogz]

I am not sure if the culprit is Muslim or not but whomever he is he needs a one way ticket to Gitmo.

[EGPWS]

Lawmakers have criticized the bureau for refusing to provide briefings which stopped when officials said information was leaking to the media.

Leahy was the addressee of one anthrax-tainted letter and Grassley has led the call for more FBI briefings.

There's your leak.....

[samadams2000]

Yes of course its unknown, just comical how most crimes they say “we are gathering evidence and have no statement”, yet when obviously a koranimal act, the first thing out of their mouth is “there is no terrorism link”.

[jpl]

I’m laughing right now just imagining the sort of fanciful yarns the FBI probably spun behind closed to Grassley and the poor doofus Leahy.

[zerosix]

Swedish Lutherans, perchance?

[JerseyJohn61]

ping

[JerseyJohn61]

You made me laugh too JPL. Until the FBI starts re looking
at some of its’ post 9/11-central New Jersey leads, this
case will remain in limbo. On the 10th anniversary of the
attacks, they will still be claiming that the case is open
and active. Ed Lake will still be trying to convince us
that there is still, just not enough evidence to convict
the right winged, domestic that he IS certain is the perp.
....JJ61

[jpl]

I fully agree. This whole thing has almost become a joke.

By the way, I don't know about you, but this is the first time in my life I can ever recall members of Congress actually agreeing to this sort of thing: having such a limited briefing with only a couple of members present instead of a whole committee.

Leahy particularly is usually a loudmouthed, bloviating tough guy when it comes to oversight of this administration. I find it more than just a little odd he agreed to this highly unusual arrangement.

[EdLake]

Ed Lake will still be trying to convince us that there is still just not enough evidence to convict the right winged, domestic that he IS certain is the perp.

If there is not enough evidence, there is not enough evidence. You may assume that the FBI can just manufacture evidence if they want to, but this is one case where "manufactured evidence" would never work. The case has just too many people scrutinizing every detail.

Showing people the mountain of evidence that al Qaeda did NOT send the anthrax letters is about who did NOT do it. It's not about who DID do it.

I don't think Dr. Hatfill is innocent because I think someone else is guilty. I think Dr. Hatfill is innocent because the FACTS say he's innocent. It has nothing to do with who I think may have done it.

I don't try to convince people that I know who sent the anthrax letters. I don't. I just look at the FACTS, and the FACTS tell me al Qaeda and Dr. Hatfill didn't do it, and the FACTS tell me the anthrax mailer was most likely a scientist who lives in Central New Jersey. So, until I get more FACTS which tell me otherwise, I have to go with the FACTS I have.

Ed at www.anthraxinvestigation.com

[EdLake]

The FBI delivered a long-awaited briefing to key U.S. senators in March ...

It's interesting that the briefing took place over a MONTH ago, but we're only learning about it now. I guess that shows that Senators can keep things secret if they want to -- at least for a month or so.

Ed at www.anthraxinvestigation.com

[holden]

this is the first time in my life I can ever recall members of Congress actually agreeing to this sort of thing: having such a limited briefing with only a couple of members present instead of a whole committee.

It's easier to catch the leahker that way, with info that was only provided in that briefing.

HF

[ZacandPook]

Ed keeps on talking about FACTS when in fact he has never addressed the facts of an Al Qaeda theory. Milton Leitenberg, in a chapter 2007 book, has a thorough and carefully done discussion arguing against an Al Qaeda theory in which he at least addresses the issue of capability in Afghanistan based on the documentary evidence, government pronouncements etc. His approach represents analytical work. Ed, OTOH, is just reasserting his conclusion and assumptions as to an Al Qaeda theory. Ed, of course, is correct that there is no reason to think Dr. Hatifll is responsible. The FBI dropped conspicuous surveillance in late 2003 after they found the “extremely virulent” anthrax in the residence pointed out in Afghanistan.

Here are some recent anthrax articles that address the facts supporting an Al Qaeda theory, which by the way is the theory credited by the FBI.

“The Faithful Spy: Amerithrax Spoiler Alert,” Scoop.co.nz, April 23, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00371.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00371.htm

“Zawahiri’s Biodefense Insider: ‘I successfully achieved the targets,’” Global Politician, April 20, 2007
http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=2658&cid=11&sid=62

(email to a friend)
http://globalpolitician.com/friend.asp?ID=2658

“Is Ayman Zawahiri Behind The Anthrax Mailings?” Scoop.co.nz, April 17, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00262.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00262.htm

“The Code Used in the Anthrax Letters,” Postal Magazine, April 11, 2007
http://www.postalmag.com/2007news/anthraxcode.htm

“Why US Senator Leahy Was Targeted With Anthrax,” Scoop.nz.co, April 17, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00263.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00263.htm

“Anthrax Letters: The Significance of the Mailing Dates,” Global Politician, April 18, 2007
http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=2648&cid=11&sid=61

(email to a friend)
http://globalpolitician.com/friend.asp?ID=2648

“The Sheiks and Bioweaponeers: the US Biodefense Connection,” NewsByUS, March 20, 2007
http://newsbyus.com/more.php?id=7588_0_1_0_M

[ZacandPook]

Ed keeps on talking about FACTS when in fact he has never addressed the facts of an Al Qaeda theory. Milton Leitenberg, in a chapter 2007 book, has a thorough and carefully done discussion arguing against an Al Qaeda theory in which he at least addresses the issue of capability in Afghanistan based on the documentary evidence, government pronouncements etc. His approach represents analytical work. Ed, OTOH, is just reasserting his conclusion and assumptions as to an Al Qaeda theory. Ed, of course, is correct that there is no reason to think Dr. Hatifll is responsible. The FBI dropped conspicuous surveillance in late 2003 after they found the “extremely virulent” anthrax in the residence pointed out in Afghanistan.

Here are some recent anthrax articles that address the facts supporting an Al Qaeda theory, which by the way is the theory credited by the FBI.

“The Faithful Spy: Amerithrax Spoiler Alert,” Scoop.co.nz, April 23, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00371.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00371.htm

“Zawahiri’s Biodefense Insider: ‘I successfully achieved the targets,’” Global Politician, April 20, 2007
http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=2658&cid=11&sid=62

(email to a friend)
http://globalpolitician.com/friend.asp?ID=2658

“Is Ayman Zawahiri Behind The Anthrax Mailings?” Scoop.co.nz, April 17, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00262.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00262.htm

“The Code Used in the Anthrax Letters,” Postal Magazine, April 11, 2007
http://www.postalmag.com/2007news/anthraxcode.htm

“Why US Senator Leahy Was Targeted With Anthrax,” Scoop.nz.co, April 17, 2007
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00263.htm

(email to a friend)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/share/email.html?path=HL0704/S00263.htm

“Anthrax Letters: The Significance of the Mailing Dates,” Global Politician, April 18, 2007
http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=2648&cid=11&sid=61

(email to a friend)
http://globalpolitician.com/friend.asp?ID=2648

“The Sheiks and Bioweaponeers: the US Biodefense Connection,” NewsByUS, March 20, 2007
http://newsbyus.com/more.php?id=7588_0_1_0_M