FBI's "Perverse Culture"

The New American | 9/23/02 | Insider Report staff

[Boot Hill]

(no link, transcribed from hard copy)

In the years that has passed since a rash of anthrax attacks terrorized our nation, the FBI has failed to name a credible suspect. Using methods that could best be described as dubious, the Bureau has identified a "person of interest", Dr. Steven Hatfill. For his part, Hatfill protests that he is an innocent, patriotic American whose reputation has been ruined by defamatory leaks by the FBI, driven by institutional desperation to produce some evidence of progress in its investigation.

The anthrax probe is yet another FBI scandal in the making, and the official in charge, Van A. Harp, is a veteran of previous Bureau catastrophes. Harp, reported the August 24th Washington Post, "was accused of misconduct and recommended for discipline for his role in a flawed review of the deadly Ruby Ridge standoff..." A confidential report filed in 1999 by Richard M. Rogers of the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility recommended suspending or censuring Harp for his role in misrepresenting the source of the illegal "shoot to kill" orders resulting in the death of Vicki Weaver in August 1992. Assistant Attorney General Stephen R. Colgate rejected that recommendation in January 2001.

The August 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge resulted in the deaths of Sammy and Vicki Weaver, as well as U.S. Marshall William Degan. Vicki was standing in the doorway of the Weaver's ramshackle mountain cabin, holding her infant daughter, when she was killed by FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi (who has never been brought to trial for the shooting, and who played a key role in the April 1993 federal slaughter of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas).

Harp was a member of the FBI's 1993 investigative team that produced a report "tilted to justify the shooting of Vicki Weaver," noted the Post. A subsequent investigation revealed that then-Assistant Director Larry Potts composed the illegal "shoot-to-kill" orders. A follow-up inquiry discovered that Harp and his supervisor, FBI Inspector Robert Walsh, "failed to ensure that their inquiry was complete," and that they sought to "protect some subjects of the investigations," reported the Post (citing the contents of that still-confidential report).

Posing as the victim of malicious, illicit press leaks, Harp complained: "Actions such as this impugn not only my integrity but also the judgment of FBI and DOJ [Department of Justice] officials in the decision-making process. My actions have been scrutinized at the highest levels of the FBI and DOJ, and no wrongdoing was found." Former FBI lab official Frederic Whitehurst offers a different perspective. In a letter co-written with Kris Kolesnik, director of the National Whistleblower Center, Whitehurst told current FBI Director Robert Mueller that Harp's case illustrates a "perverse culture" at the Bureau: "The wrongdoers keep rising to the top. Meanwhile, those who refuse to look the other way face a dead=end in their careers."

This Soviet-style institutional culture, in which agents like Harp are promoted because of institutional loyalty, rather than devotion to our Constitution and laws, has done much to nullify the FBI as an effective counter-terrorism agency. Nothing illustrates this better than the fact that, rather than face suspension, Harp was put in charge of a key investigation in the "war on terrorism."

[Boot Hill]

All the agents I've ever come in contact with were the most ethical and honorable men and women I've ever known, but this Harp guy sounds like a real gem. Twenty-five thousand agents, 2% rotten apples equals the potential for 500 Lon Horiuchis. If there is an institutional bias for the worst to rise to the top, then what we've seen so far from FBI snafu's is only a mere hint of what is to come.

Regards,

Boot Hill

[mewzilla]

Well, while we're on the subject of the FBI, did you catch Brit hume tonight on FOX talking about a Lackawanna area lady who claims she knew agents were doing something in the area? She saw them in their car, steaking out what she thought was probably a drugs suspect, but she knew they were FBI because they were always reading the Washington Post while sitting in their car. How's that for blending in, huh?

[Boot Hill]

PING

[OldCorps]

Agreed, most FBI agents are honorable...in the field (away from Washington). When it comes to cases of public interest, the FBI sadly gels into a self perpetuating interest group. The top leadership of the FBI should all be dismissed. They alone are responsible for Ruby Ridge, Waco (enough lies told here to keep a confession booth in operation for years).

This destruction of reputations because the FBI is feeling heat to solve a case is cowardly. When you get rid of the thugs and liars at the top, the honorable men of the FBI will be able to do the job.

[Boot Hill]

I don't care how good a detective you think you are, your average observent mother watching her neighborhood can spot a stakeout (or any other unusual activity) faster than you can finish a cold beer on a hot day.

--Boot

[mewzilla]

LOL. A couple of them spotted one around here once. Walked right up to the car and asked the men, though they didn't know the men were officers, what the heck they were doing.

[Boot Hill]

"The top leadership should be dismissed."

I agree, a purge.

--Boot

[Vidalia]

" Twenty-five thousand agents, 2% rotten apples... "

Your estimation is low...

[Boot Hill]

"Your estimation is low"

I assume you are basing that on something more than just "feelings".

--Boot

[hgro]

F umbling

B umbling

I diots

[Lurker]

The FBI guys I've met aren't the kind of folks I would let mow my lawn when I was out of town, let alone trust them with a badge and a gun.

The FBI shouldn't be reformed, it should be dismantled.

The only worse federal agency I have ever dealt with was BATF. I flat out refused to work with those incompetent boobs.

L

[Boot Hill]

LOL, better than "F-Troop" for the BATF, though!

--Boot

[Boot Hill]

Sounds like you've had some real unpleasant run ins with FBI, BATF. Have you ever posted your experiences to FR?

--Boot

[zerosix]

I also know of some agents who I consider to be straight arrows. That having been said, how anyone in their right mind can look at the facts behind (1)Ruby Ridge; (2)Waco; (3)Richard Jewell; (4)Elian Gonzales and now (5)this Hatfill and not conclude that there are some very, very rotten apples in the FBI barrel.

One can also read about what happened to Gary Aldrich and his partner. Considering that it happened in the Clinton Whitehouse is not at all surprising but to hear Gary tell it, not one person in the Bureau stood up for him or is his friend today. He said that when one works that many years with many of the same people, they become like family and losing all of them was very hard not only on him but also his wife.

[Boot Hill]

Pretty reasonable assesment. Being a proud agent today must feel a little like being a proud Marine and then hearing someone like Scott Ritter reminding everyone that he too is a former Marine.

--Boot

[Vidalia]

Yup, the power trips and arrogance have allowed a majority of agents to second guess the Constitution, and only when they have a chance of being taken to a court of recognition where the media might show up do they "abide by the rules", yet whose rules is still a mystery to many.

Just because an agent, regardless of years served is fired, "let go", retired or whatever, the badges and other authoritative documentation is kept by the individuals, and if need be, will be replaced by friends in the agency (no records) .

They continue to have access to weapons from the "evidence pile" inclusive of plastique explosives etc. which hundreds have used for personal use and financial gain.

The fingerprint database and the agents' records have been corrupted on many occasions for professional and personal gain.

Agents, active or fired or whatever have hired out as hit men, couriers, spotters (cleaning routes of crimes to give the perps a "clean route of escape"); you can name your choice.

This ain't Kennedy stuff here, I am talking the last 25+ years across the political arena and some corporate HQs.

ATF, DEA, FBI all have a contingent of dirty/rogue elements who, up until about two years ago ran free and unfettered.

They helped the Clintons starting back in Arkansas. They helped Enron assholes. The evidence is piling up from the most unlikely people/places. The body counts of innocents from these bastards has dropped, along with the babies for sale trade out of various cities.

Catching the drift?

Your handle is apt, for many of these guys are not going down quietly, continuing to believe they are little gods who were trained to be above the law.

So Be It...

[JohnGalt]

Don't let the CIA off the hook either.

They let Andres Strassmeir into the country.

[Vidalia]

" They continue to have access to weapons from the "evidence pile" inclusive of plastique explosives etc. which hundreds have used for personal use and financial gain."

I will recant this number of agents. Only the dirty bastards that we had to deal with used the stuff, and luckily we got to it before it got to us.

The rest is documented fact headed to the courts on the proper date.

[dcwusmc]

bump to comment later...

[caltrop]

When I was in college you had to have either an accounting degree or a law degree to become an FBI agent. It seems to me they should return to that requirement. Along those lines, I'd like to see them eliminate their ability to arrest someone except in their protective capacity. To make any other kind of arrest, I'd disarm the federal agencies (FBI, BATF, etc.) and require them to give the local sheriff or state police the details and ask them to make the arrest. Such a policy would have eliminated the excitment at Ruby Ridge and Waco and made them non-events.