The government says "we leaked nothing, the press made it all up" and the press says "we didn't accuse anyone, the government did it all on their own".
To me, the solution is obvious: you're both guilty as charged. Pay up suckers, and stop accusing people of being rapists and mass murderers unless you have something solid to back it up.
So where did the anthrax come from?
“General Ashcroft”? Strange.
ping
Here are some FBI memos re the investigation of media leaks.
In early August 2002, the head of the District of Columbia Field Office initiated a leak investigation related to Amerithrax information. The first leak investigation concerned leak of bloodhound story to Newsweek (according to email discussed in deposition of lead prosecutor Daniel Seikaly in which he repeatedly pled the Fifth Amendment). A memo from DC Field Office head Van Harp read:
TO: OPR
NSD
From: Washington Field
ADIC’s Office: Harp Van A (202) xxx-xxxx
***
Title: UNSUB
UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE AND/OR
MEDIA LEAK IN CONNECTION WITH THE
AMERITHRAX INVESTIGATION
***
[REDACTED]
[REDACTED]
The appearance of this information in the media affects the conduct of this investigation as well as the morale of the dedicated personnel who have expended enormous energy and effort on this investigation.
As such, I am requesting that either a media leak or OPR investigation be initiated. In the event a leak investigation is initiated then the enclosed LRM should be hand delivered to AAG Chertoff. [REDACTED]
The investigation was closed in October 2002. The memo read:
Date: October 8, 2002
To: Mr. H. Marshall Jarrett
Counsel
Office of Professional Responsibility
United States Department of Justice
From: David W. Szady
Assistant Director
Counterintelligence Division
Subject: [REDACTED[
The purpose of this memorandum is to notify your office of the closing of the FBI’s criminal investigation of the captioned media leak matter. It is the understanding of the FBI that your continUed investigation of this matter will be pursued by your office.
[REDACTED]
***
After a January 9, 2003 “exclusive” report by ABC’s Brian Ross that the FBI was focusing on Hatfill and was going to conduct a second round of interviews with other former and current government scientists so that they might rule them out by the process of elimination, the FBI initiated a second media leak investigation. This time it was to proceed with “extreme zeal.”
The memo read:
Precedence: PRIORITY Date: 1/13/2003
To: Director’s Office
Washington Field
From: Washington Field
Contact Richard L. Lambert 202-xxx-xxxx
Approved by: Harp Van
Lambert Richard L
Title: AMERITHRAX
MAJOR CASE 184
00: WFO
Synopsis: To request the opening of new OPR media leak investigation regarding captioned case.
[large redacted passages]
To demonstrate the seriousness with which the FBI views this matter, it is requested that the OPR inquiry commence with an interview of IIC Rick Lambert who will waive all Fifth Amendment privileges and accede to a voluntary polygraph examination to set a tone of candor, forthrightness and cooperation.
[redacted]
The instant matter is the second unauthorized media disclosure to occur in this investigation. Its potential detriment to the effective prosecution of the case is substantial. Accordingly, in the interests of both specific and general deterrence, the Inspector in Charge requests that this OPR inquiry be pursued with unprecedent zeal.
Mr. Clawson at his deposition testified that a reporter told him a federal agent says a silencer was found in Dr. Hatfill’s apartment. At least Dr. Hatfill was not claimed to have kept the silencer in the refrigerator next to the anthrax simulant BT that was found. (At one point, Mr. Clawson says he had it because he trained first responders etc. which would have been reason enough for the simulant.)
From: “Pat Clawson” [email redacted]
To: “Vic Glasbegg” [email redacted]
Cc: [Dr. Hatfill’s email redacted]
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 4:08 PM
Subject: RE: Hatfill Update ....
Vic,
Your messsage is understood and I agree with it.
Gary [Matsumoto] has assured me that he is prepared to go the distance, and I be!ieve him.
Assuming he gets into DC early this evening, do you wish to meet with him? I certainly have no problem with it, and actually think it would be good to do.
Regards,
Pat
..... Original Message .....
From: Vic Glasberg [email redacted]
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 4:11
To: Pat Clawson
Cc: [Hatfill’s email redacted]
Subject: Ke: Hatfill Update .....
Pat —
Steve should not be quoted, nor should Matsumoto say or imply that he spoke with him. In addition, Matsumoto must be willing to go to jail rather than revea! word one of anything “Steve says on “deep background.” The latter applies as well to you. You and Steve know that I do not feel comfortable with Steve’s speaking to anyone about issues that may heart
however tangentially, on anthrax charges, and recontmend that he not do so.
i realize how galling it is for you and Steve to continue hearing me say “wait” while evidence mounts that the criminal cloud will in fact dissipate, as we hope and expect. The problem is the existence of the cloud. The fact that a thunderburst will end in 5 minutes does not mean you take your raincoat off in a drenching shower. I will be out of town (Ann Arbor) after this evening, and back in the office on Tuesday.
Victor M. Glasberg
Victor M. Glasberg & Associates
XXX
Alexandria, VA 22314
XXX
From: Via Glasberg [email redacted]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 12:53 PM
To: steven hatfill
cc: Pat Clawson
Subject: Fw: NY Times editorial
***
From: “Vic G!asberg” [email redacted]
To: “steven hatfi!l” [email redacted]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 12:47 PM
Subject: NY Times editorial
>
***
> Ironically, the government’s stupid decision to raid your home rather
> than seeking cooperation, which raid precipitated our escalated public
relations reaction, has given your case far greater visibility, and given our
efforts far greater success, than would othgerwise have occurred. Thanks to
> the government, Rosenberg, Shane and Kristoff are, each of them, in
> varying stages of sulking, licking their wounds, reacting defensively,
> and changing
> their tune.
>
> Pat C!awson is largely responsible for this success. His savvy,
> drive [technical glitch] commitment to your cause have
made these successes possible.
i expect to meet with selected representatives of the press on Monday. Pat is setting it up. If it goes off, which i expect it wil!, there should be something useful on TV Monday evening.
Vic
***
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Vic Glasberg [ email redacted]
Friday, August 16, 2002 4:15 PM
steven hatfill; Pat Clawson
Status report
Gentlemen:
I wish briefly to take stock of where we are, and to confirm certain guidelines as we proceed:
1. We have met with astonishing success in turning the tide of adverse publicity.
Starting with what was a torrent of government-leaked defamatory innuendo aimed at Steve, we have achieved a clear public awareness that while Steve, like his biowarfare colleagues, is a legitimate subject of interest to the investigating authorities, they have gone haywire in focusing on him like a loser as they have. The public may well be more concerned at this point with governmenta! unfairness and overreaching in Steve’s case as it is in him as a “person of interest.” The case has reached international
proportions. I have favorable articles from Le Monde in Paris and the leading paper in San Salvador in my office. I am sure there are tons more. and of course we have the Times and Post editorials.
All this is an enormous achievement. Pat gets enormous credit for having it happen.
2. We have put, and are in the process of putting, the principal detractors on the . defensive. Rosenberg has shut up. Shane is publishing helpful stuff. The Times has virtually repudiated Kristoff. Kristoff is backing off, however ungraciously, and I have some things in store for him next week. I do not mean to suggest that the defamation will stop. But it can be expected to continue to calm down, big time.
3. We are moving forward aggressively on the handwriting and dog fronts, and I expect to have something to report next week. I cannot give you a date, but will let you know. You cannot rush experts, just ask them to hurry.
4. The above is the good news. There is no particularly bad news to report, but the good news cannot overshadow~the reality that Steve is under a criminal microscope, i compare the matter to the flimsy scaffolding that some years ago surrounded the Washington monument as the masonry was being, repaired. We are in the process of shredding the scaffolding, but WE DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS MASONRY THERE. We do not know stuff the government has not leaked. We do not know what we do not know. What we do know is that they are eyeing Steve for a capital offense, and that if they can’t nail him for that, some other offense, real or bogus, might be an opportune second.
We must not allow our delight with our publicity successes to obscure this fact. While the immediate and feasible task at hand is winning the public relations trial, the ultimate task is preventing.(or winning) the courtroom trial. The latter will occur, or not occur, based on things WE DO NOT KNOW, CANNOT EXPECT TO LEARN THROUGH LEAKS OR FRIENDS, AND CANNOT EXPECT TO CONTROL EXCEPT INDIRECTLY, MODESTLY AND UNCERTAINLY VIA OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK.
5. I have spoken with Jon Shapiro at length about the above. He and I are
in agreement that it is imperative to maintain appropriate vigilance regarding all matters of interest or potential interest to the authorities, regardless of how bogus, and notwithstanding the recent and hopefully ongoing PR successes, in particular, Steve must continue to observe the rule of COMPLETE SILENCE regarding anything and everything about the case except when communicating in legally privileged circumstances, I have no doubt
that Steve has been doing this, but precisely because things may seem to be improving on the PR front it is imperative to maintain this rule.
6. Steve’s only privileged forums now are with his counsel. This means,
Steve, that you should continue NOT SPEAKING about anything with ANYONE.
This includes Peck and Pat. If you, Steve, feel a need to communicate anything to Peck or
Pat, let me Know and we’ll figure it out, just as we did when Pat and I jointly spoke with you on the phone several days ago. Pat, the same goes for you: please do not speak to Steve about ANYTHING except, as a friend, to find out how he’s feeling. Please do not discuss any facts, about the case or about the government’s investigation, surveillance, etc.
If you need to learn something from Steve, Parr let me hnow. I’ll get it to you. Except for your lawyers, Steve, anyone with whom you speak, including Pat and Peck, can be hauled in front of a grand jury to disgorge 100% of what you discussed. The latter should continue to be zero information of substance. Let your lawyers and Pat attend to the talking. I realize it is a pain in the neck. But being under the criminal microscope is worse, in actuality and in potential.
Steve and Pat: PLEASE CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE. Thank you.
Have a nice weekend.
Vic
Victor M. Glasberg
Victor M. Glasberg & Associates
xxx
***
FROM: Vic Glasberg
Wednesday, September 11,2002 9:04 AM
TO: Pat Clawson
CC: steven hatfill; ion shapiro
SUBJECT Re: Clawson’s Last Posting Before Leaving for Seattle ....
Thanks for the information on Corish; I”ll pass it on.
I spoke with Jon about the judge’s order sealing our motion. We are not free to give it to anyone. I asked Jon, rhetorically, if a judge could peremptorily seal one’s own affidavit and thereby prevent one from giving out one’s own statement. He said yes. So right now all the dog business is under wraps.
Jon advises that you may be called before the grand jury. He says that prosecutors are ruthless in this regard. He has had children called against parents, and parents against children, in death cases. All this raises important issues that we should consider more pointedly at this time. I would confirm my retention of you on virtually day one as an investigator, but it is beyond cavil that you are also Steve’s friend with direct personal
knowledge of particular facts (e.g. the cipro discussions, the anthrax cabin, the DC terrorism novel), and also his principal press spokesman.
Counsel for RadioAmerican might think otherwise (you might ask) but I doubt you could plausibly claim any sort of journalist’s First Amendment privilege on these matters. In the end, i believe that you would not have any locked-in privilege to bar your compelled testimony before a grand jury, should your testimony be demanded, as well it may as the government starts scrambling to comeup with something.
Jon has made it clear that in his view it is important not to provide potential
substantive ammunition to the feds, regardless of the PR price paid by silence on some issues (as opposed to no silence on the procedural unfairness of the investigation). To date we have focused in this regard on what Steve tells the press, by himself or through you. Now that the tide has turned on the issue of the investigatory unfairness, we must
turn as well to minimizing Steve’s exposure, and your own, to major problems arising out of your being called to testify before the grand jury.
What you know, you know, and you have put virtually all of that into the public record.
Fine. That is where we are, and for good or ill we can and will deal with it. But we must put a full stop to any further conveyance of substantive data about ANYTHING from Steve to anyone but Jon or me, except as Jon may approve. I am ready and willing to argue for more ample disc!osures for PR purposes, but, having made the argument, I wil! defer to Jon, and so too must Steve and you. I don’t think anyone disagrees with this — witness your rebuff of Kyla Dunn to which you refer — but I am writing it down because I have
not stressed this particular point before and it is important to note.
I am sending a copy of this to Steve and Jon so that we might all be on the same page.
Have a nice trip. We can light some more fireqrackers next week complaining to Congress that Ashcroft has not responded to my letter.
Vic
Victor M. Glasberg
Victor M. Glasberg~& Associates
***
Original Message
From: “Pat Clawson” [email redacted]
To: “Vic Glasberg” [email redacted]
Sent: Tuesday, September I0, 2002 8:33 PM
Subject: Clawson’s Last Posting Before Leaving for Seattle ....
,,Victor...
Call Chris C~rish of our staff here at Radio America...202-xxx-xxxx.
He’s had !ors of personal experience dealing with the two fundraisers.
They also raise money for Radio America.
Aiso, you need to phone Mark Smith, the handwriting expert who has offered his services.
Interesting guy - and he’s been in touch with the FBI agents working Steve’s case. He has some insight at to their ineptness that you might find helpfu!. His phone is 301 xxx xxxx
i spoke tonight with Kyle Dunn, the freelance reporter for the New York Times Magazine.
Be careful - she’s been on the staff of the Center for Investigative Reporting in San Francisco for severa! years. She’s very sharp, not your typical dumb-ass reporter. I declined to discuss Steve’s Africa and military background, told her she’ll need to get answers from you on that.
I understand that she’s meeting with you on Thursday.
Ill be reachable via cell — 703-xxx xxxx.
Regards,
Pat Clawson
Is his travel patterns consistent with the locations the letters were mailed from?
The real anthrax killers died when they flew the planes they hijacked into the World Trade Center on 11 Sept, 2001, and then also when Saddam Hussein was hung to death.
Political correctness and the idea that you had to have an air-tight legal case before going after whole nations that mean us harm will be the death of too many of us.
Muhhamad Atta and his gang got weaponized anthrax from Saddam Hussein’s regime when Atta met Iraqi intel officers in Prague in May of 2001, and Atta and his villians mailed the Anthrax letters, to be mailed in NJ, by accomplices, after they died. That is why from their safe house in Fla, the first anthrax victim was the guy right there at the National Star, and the druggist had to offer Atta and another fiend some antibiotics days before 9/11.
Obviously, it had to be Hatfill. He was a bitter, small-town typical white person
Ping.
OK, so we have Hatfill’s position...
But, what does McCoy have to say?
I don’t have time to read this now, but pinging you BA, in case you didn’t see this.
Also, thought you’d find it interesting Miz Sterious.