Hatfill files complaint against Ashcroft

MSNBC ^ | 8/25 | MSNBC

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

Hatfill files complaint against Ashcroft

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES Aug. 25 — Dr. Stephen Hatfill, who the FBI has named as a “person of interest” in the investigation into last fall’s anthrax attacks, has filed an ethics complaint against Attorney General John Ashcroft and others in the Justice Department for leaking information to the press and sullying his reputation.

Hatfill has said that payroll records at his employer, Science Applications International Corp., show that he was at his job in Virginia over the dates that the letters were mailed.

Two weeks ago, Hatfill first identified himself as a target in the investigation, and said that he “had nothing to do in any way, shape or form with the mailing of these anthrax letters.” He also said he “immediately” consented to a polygraph test that the examiner said he passed. Since then, surveillance by the FBI has increased and agents have followed him as closely as four feet away while driving in his car, Clawson said Sunday. Agents have also showed Hatfill’s photo to Princeton, N.J. residents in the area where anthrax spores were found on mailboxes.

The complaint against Ashcroft focuses on his handling of the case and the leaks to the media, Clawson said. For example, when the FBI arrived to search his apartment, the media was waiting, Hatfill said in his first media statement. “The FBI agents promised me that the search would be quiet, private and very low-key. It did not turn out that way,” said Hatfill.

[SC Swamp Fox]

"...based on credible evidence"

aah..that's the key, isn't it?

Did you watch and listen to his statement? If half of what he says is true, it is a serious indictment of the FBI and the "pack" mentality of the media.

[not-alone]

Watching the press conference I kept thinking about the guy that testified before Congress in the Traficant case about his treatment from the FBI. I got goosebumps when he said he supported Ashcraft. This press conference has me rethinking my support for the Patriot Act. I am beginning to think this guys whistleblowing about the Government is what got him in trouble-that's very scary maybe I have loved Dubya too much.

[iranger]

Exactly right. The media would love to pin the anthrax murders on "right wingers." Their greatest fear is that it was actually perpetrated by Al Queida with antrax manufactured and weaponized by Iraq. War would ensue. Politically correct libralism would be out of favor and Bush would become an unstoppable "war president." Best for their commie cause if they can pin it on someone else. Hatfill isn't having any of it though.

[freeperfromnj]

Why is everyone so quick to assume he being Richard Jeweled? The man lied about his credentials. He lived, trained and worked in Africa for several years of his life before coming back to the U.S. to take the job at Fort Detrick. Who knows who he crossed paths with in Africa. Everyone seems to assume he physically mailed the anthrax. Interesting that he mentioned Atta's name. He could have given a sample to Atta for a price. Don't forget, he has a Florida connection as well. He is one of a handful of scientists who had access to the anthrax strain stored at Fort Detrick. After he came out on the offensive in his first press conference why hasn't the FBI cleared him yet? According to his press conference today, one of the agents leaked to his girlfriend that they had evidence against him. I'm inclined to believe they have something but aren't ready yet to release it. He's innocent until proven otherwise but I would keep an open mind on him.

[Peach]

I wish I'd written that. Only a liberal press and the Democrats gain by making us think the anthrax is the work of a right-wing American.

[Peach]

I missed a good portion of the press conference but read somewhere that Hatfield provided employment records to prove he was at work rather than in England mailing one of the anthrax letters. Is that correct? Also, what's the deal with the first guy to die of anthrax last year - didn't his wife or employer's wife rent an apartment to one of the 19 terrorists?

[Peach]

Hatfield=Hatfill

[freeperfromnj]

I watched Richard Jewell and said, "He didn't do it." I just watched Hatfill. He didn't do it.

When I watched Richard Jewell say he didn't do it I believed him right off the bat. I don't get that same instinctive feeling of this guy's innocence the way I did with Jewel.

[honway]

http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/oct/24ny6.htm

Link

US firm in Pakistan gets anthrax letter

Muhammad Najeeb in Islamabad

Two anthrax attack cases involving multinational companies, including an American firm, have occurred in Pakistan, but officials are trying to keep them under wraps for reasons unknown, reports said.

A report in The News and the Jang dailies said last week senior executives at two business organisations in Karachi -- an international bank and a computer-marketing firm -- received international mail that carried anthrax spores with some powdery material.

A number of staff members at both the organisations are now being treated for anthrax.

A senior staff member at the main laboratory of the Aga Khan University and Hospital in Karachi said tests have revealed that one of the two mails was loaded with anthrax, while the other had traces of the bacterium.

Medical experts say since the first cases of anthrax have already been confirmed in Pakistan, authorities must immediately launch a public awareness exercise as almost all forms of anthrax, if caught early, can be cured.

Indo-Asian News Service

Any indication from the FBI about the motivation of the U.S. domestic terrorist mailing anthrax in Pakistan

[freeperfromnj]

Why the Feds are (again!) insisting on finding a white American to scapegoat is beyond me.

I don't think this is about a right wing white scapegoat. Under Clinton & Co., of course, that would have been my first thought. Speaking of Slick, there's something slick about this guy. He's trying awfully hard, almost to the point of overkill, to convince us of his innocence. Why the encore performance? Why not just file your papers in court.

[honway]

http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/nov/02ny5.htm

Link

Anthrax mailed to Pakistan's Jang group

Nov 1,2001

A major publication group in Pakistan, Jang, has put its staff on antibiotics and hired a top microbiologist to disinfect its main editorial room in Karachi, after tests confirmed that the powdery substance sent along with a press release earlier contained anthrax spores.

The anthrax scare that hit the American media has spread to the Pakistan press as well, The News, part of Jang publications said on Friday, confirming that envelopes containing anthrax spores were received in the group's offices at Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi and London.

However, none of the employees exposed to the mail has tested positive for anthrax so far, it said.

But the staffers of the Jang in Karachi were put on antibiotics.

The News in a report also said that top microbiologists made staffers vacate the main editorial rooms in Karachi.

"The lab tests on Thursday confirmed that the white powdery substance has anthrax spores. We have hired Aga Khan Hospital's microbiologists to disinfect our main editorial sections," the newspaper quoted a management official as saying.

"We have advised our workers to be on high alert especially when they handle mail," the report added.

The measures were taken after tests confirmed that a press release received by one of the newspaper's reporters on October 23 contained anthrax spores.

So far, Pakistan has two confirmed cases of anthrax. Both were reported from multinational companies in Karachi after their staff received mail with anthrax spores.

Ashcroft is not dumb enough to believe Hatfill is responsible for the anthrax mailings in Pakistan. So much for bringing his "Christian" values to the Department of Justice. At least he covered up the naked statue. Reno would be proud of his performance in the Hatfill case.

[brydic1]

Anyone that believe this Justice Dept is any better than the one that preceded it only has to look at the total incompetentcy of those in charge of the investigation of the missing Oregon youngsters. It is pathetic that the families of these girls had to wait as long as 8 months for these incompetents to find the girls bodies only a few yards from their home on the property of a known and convicted abuser.

[brydic1]

The FBI only considers for investigation those people that these so-called profilers think are likely suspects. These profilers stated almost immediately after the anthrax attacks that it was probably the work of domestic conservative christians. Hell or high water would not dislodge them until they have one of that variety to bring to trial. Facts need not matter, just find one that fits the profile.

[brydic1]

In fact, I believe that they ruled out anyone but those who use the Free Republic.

[honway]

If press reports are true and the DOJ is going to drop charges against Moussaoui that link him directly to the 9-11 attack, we approaching the one year anniversary and the FBI has failed to prosecute a single co-conspirator in the 9-11 attack.

Considering the support network required by the hijackers and the hijackings that were thwarted that day, I suppose the FBI had to find a scapegoat to cover up for their utter and complete incompetence.

[Amelia]

He's trying awfully hard, almost to the point of overkill, to convince us of his innocence.

Something about it gave me an uneasy feeling as well. He was saying all the right things, but some of it didn't quite ring true, to my ears, despite my skepticism both that the anthrax had a domestic source and that it was a right-winger who sent it.

I guess we'll find out eventually.

[brydic1]

I have no idea whether Hatfill is guilty or not. I certainly do know that going back to the Kennedy assassination it is first obligation of the government and the press to jump to the (erroneous) conclusion that it the evil deeds were committed by conservative americans. It makes no difference if that Oswald had renounced the US for citizenship in Soviet Russia, that he had numerous contacts with Castro. No, we must lay the blame of conservatives. The government never wants to contemplate that we can be attacked by terrorists unless there is simply no way to avoid same i.e. WTC. The plane crashes off Long Island in NY. How many times did we hear no "creditable" evidence it was an attack. Deny, Deny. They simply do not want to face the truth, it might result in a demand by the american people that we hold these criminals to account. I certainly am withholding any judgment on Hatfill but the conduct of the FBI in case after case gives me no confidence that they have any idea what they are doing.

[AmishDude]

Always beware the person who cries of leaks.

It's a tried and true Clintonian tactic to leak damaging information yourself and then blame the prosecutor for doing it.

[brydic1]

The NY Times was all too thrilled to continually print stories about Hatfill. How he was a conservative, how he actually fought for the Rhodesians, etc. etc. They and the Clinton leftovers in the DOJ wanted it to be Hatfill. By scapegoating Hatfill, they could stop any further investigations that might lead to evidence that the attack was actually committed by Atta and perhaps other Saudi financed operatives.

[Amelia]

I certainly am withholding any judgment on Hatfill but the conduct of the FBI in case after case gives me no confidence that they have any idea what they are doing.

I can't deny your points but I'd certainly hoped that at this point things would be changing for the better.

Wonder how much it takes to change an entrenched bureaucracy?