FBI searches apartment in anthrax probe (Contains new info)

CNN ^ | August 1, 2002 | Kelli Arena

[The Great Satan]

Interestingly, the FBI agent who is responsible for the Hatfill investigation, Bob Roth, was also the FBI's point man on their investigation into the killing of Joyce Chiang. If you recall, Chiang was an attractive young intern who worked in the office's of Gary Condit's close friend, Howard Berman (D-CA). She disappeared in January 1999. She was last seen talking to a blonde woman at a Dupont Circle Starbucks close to Condit's condo. Her skeletonized remains surfaced in the Potamac river several months later. After Chiang disappeared, Berman offered a reward and brought the FBI in on the case. The crime was never solved.

[cynwoody]

therefore, they needed a search warrant

I thought it was perfectly legal to look thru a suspect's trash, as long as no trespass is required to gain access to it.

I seem to recall a dispute a while back between Microsoft and Oracle in which Oracle allegedly decided to look in the trash of an organization that was lobbying for Microsoft. Oracle's rentacops supposedly rented space in the same office building, so that they would not need to commit a trespass in order to get at the dumpster.

[Mitchell]

I thought it was perfectly legal to look thru a suspect's trash, as long as no trespass is required to gain access to it.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

I believe the trash bins being searched through were on private (apartment house) property. They also would have contained the garbage of many people who were not suspects. While a warrantless search might have stood up in court, as you suggest, the authorities might have figured that it would be safer to get a search warrant.