Report: FBI Agents Took Ground Zero Souvenirs

http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?id=10054&siteSection=1 ^

[Stew Padasso]

Report: FBI Agents Took Ground Zero Souvenirs FBI Had No Policy On Taking Mementos

POSTED: 1:44 a.m. EST February 26, 2004 UPDATED: 1:14 p.m. EST February 26, 2004

Story by wnbc.com

NEW YORK -- According to a Justice Department report, at least 13 FBI agents entrusted with removing evidence following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, removed items for souvenirs or gifts, NewsChannel 4 reported.

According to the confidential report, agents removed American flags, marble building chunks, patches from World Trade Center security guard uniforms, World Trade Center signs and keys and a Tiffany globe.

"To think of taking something from that site, it's not only foolish, it's despicable," said Monica Gabriel, widow of a victim killed in the attacks.

According to NBC News, the report recommended disciplinary action for two agents who allegedly took items from the World Trade Center ruins. The FBI said it is still reviewing the report.

To date, only one agent has been disciplined by being suspended for 10 days for taking 70 to 80 pounds of ground zero mementos. But because the FBI has had no clear policy on taking souvenirs, it said prosecution is not warranted.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he wants to make sure it never happens again.

"What they did was something that makes you feel a little squishy inside, but since the FBI didn't have rules, it's better to look forward and make sure this doesn't happen again and not blast the people from the past," Schumer told NewsChannel 4.

The FBI said it does have a new policy stating that agents will no longer be allowed to take anything from a crime scene.

[theDentist]

That's disgusting. Sounds like Hillary and the Silverware.

[steve50]

What's more disgusting is the whistle blower that turned them in is gone and the agents involved are still there.

[tuckrdout]

You know, most of the people who worked in that huge mortuary were filled with a horror that few of us will know. I would dare say that almost everyone who was there, picked up a few things, to represent their sorrow.

If you watch "American Chopper", you saw that a fireman, who worked at ground zero, gave the guys a piece of the building that he picked up. They incorporated that piece into a chopper.

[dwilli]

If these agents took momentos from the site, would they also pick up a Rolex, a pile of cash or other valuables if they happened upon same?

[50sDad]

Momentos, I have no problem with. Concrete, marble, steel, etc., no problem at all. Patches from uniforms? That's just wrong and evil, and is worse than stealing the coppers from a dead man's eyes.

[theDentist]

If you or I tore off a patch from a uniform, or took a Tiffany Globe, we'd be arrested for looting.

[tuckrdout]

And I would even dare to assume that Shumer took some things....He and "The Beast" give them away to special "contributers" and visitors, don't they?

[dwilli]

I've always suspected that many of the people who were digging through the rubble from gitgo made off with untold millions of personal and company assets.

[TBall]

I wonder what James Sanders thinks of all this?

[coloradan]

Let's not forget that James Kallstrom personally gave mementos from the air disaster to a friend who lost a loved one, an act which does not accomplish any investigative goal, and was not prosecuted, but James Sanders was prosecuted under the anti-souvenir law for testing swatches of seat back material for missile residue, which however does accomplish an investigative mission.

FBI agents continue to act above the law.

[Indie]

According to a Justice Department report, at least 13 FBI agents entrusted with removing evidence following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, removed items for souvenirs or gifts..

Brought to you by the same folks who brought you the carnage at Waco and Ruby Ridge. These guys get a slap on the wrist and someone with some personal pot gets a federal minimum sentence of 5-10 years. Thanks guys. Glad I just stayed a Dallas cop and didn't go fed. At least I can sleep at night without getting the covers dirty.