Not too surprising, considering that there isn't, and never was! The worst things anyone has on Hatfill is that he was prone to exaggeration and self-prmotion, and that he puffed up his resume'. I've known guys who were like that, but being like that doesn't make one a mass murderer.
Maybe the scum in the so-called mainstream media will finally take this hint from Judge Walton and stop putting out these little hit pieces against Hatfill implying that he's guilty and the government needs to charge him right away. And I know some of them out there are reading this thread.
I don’t thiink the harsh language is warranted (although NK should have called Dr. H before running the July 2, 2002 column).
The NYT reports that the Judge indicated:
“There’s not a scintilla of evidence to suggest Dr. Hatfill had anything to do with it.”
That’s tough talk in legalese suggesting summary judgment would be warranted on the issue — that there is no triable issue of fact on the subject.
The reporting in 2002 and 2003 is perfectly understandable, however, given the high level of the position making the leaks.
Dr. H does not have a particularly strong footing on the moral high road given, his lawyer says, he falsely claimed he had a PhD in gaining access to dangerous pathogens.
The key omission or mistake is that NK did not call or contact Dr. H before the July 2, 2002 article.
The journalists are in the business of news, not analysis. On the rare occasion they are allowed to engage in analysis, and their editors authorize a budget that permits them to dig into and investigate the facts, they should pick up the phone and be sure they are giving the other side a chance to provide their input and clear up misunderstandings or mistakes.
Five years later, if we as a public can’t overcome the mistake — when the CIA director himself has published a book saying the anthrax planning was in parallel with the planning for the Planes Operation — then we have only ourselves to blame.