From NPR-
"Ivins also had access to a sophisticated freeze-dryer, which could have been used to turn the wet bacteria into a dry form. Ivins' co-worker Jeff Adamovicz says he remembers the unit, called a lyopholizer, in the hallway and says it was used to dry protein samples for vaccine work. Adamovicz said the dryer was signed out to Ivins. Adamovicz remembers FBI agents testing the dryer, but they never hauled it away, a sign it most likely came up clean. An additional piece of equipment would also have been required to mill the dried spores into a powdered form.
"An additional piece of equipment." If they had Ivins on it, the FBI would have leaked it. Looks like the "made the stuff himself" story from today is fading by quitin' time.
I read this story today too (CNN ?) Supposedly, Ivins “got checked out” in the use of this gear, signed for it,and worked with it.
I’d GUESS there was more than enough data to consider him a strong suspect;but nowhere near enough to present a winnable case.
Again: the FBI’s “Office of Profession Responsibility” should be all over this case - nailing down the leaker(s).