Lawyers Seek Leak Sources in Anthrax Suit

AP ^ | April 11, 2006 | Pete Yost

[Shermy]

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for a scientist investigated in the 2001 anthrax killings have questioned at least two journalists and are subpoenaeing other reporters, seeking the identities of their confidential government sources.

Through a lawsuit, Steven Hatfill is trying to track down suspected leakers at the FBI and the Justice Department who made Hatfill the focus of news coverage regarding anthrax-laced letters mailed to members of the press and to two United States senators.

Hatfill's lawsuit alleges violations of the Privacy Act and his constitutional rights to due process and free speech.

Newsweek magazine reporter Michael Isikoff and ABC correspondent Brian Ross both underwent questioning by lawyers for Hatfill in recent weeks, and both refused to identify their confidential sources.

Washington Post reporter Alan Lengel has been subpoenaed by Hatfill's lawyers, who also have expressed interest in questioning the Washington bureau chief of Newsweek magazine, Dan Klaidman.

A person familiar with the lawsuit said Hatfill's lawyers also plan to question CBS News correspondent Jim Stewart. CBS News declined to comment.

Kevin Baine, a private Washington attorney representing Newsweek, confirmed the information about the two reporters at the magazine. The Post confirmed the information about Lengel, and ABC News confirmed the information about Ross. A lawyer for Hatfill, Thomas Connolly, declined to comment Tuesday.

Hatfill says he lost his job as a government contractor after he was identified publicly as a person of interest in the probe.

Five people died in the anthrax attacks and 17 people were sickened. No one has been arrested.

Hatfill is a medical doctor and scientist with expertise in issues pertaining to biological warfare, though, according to his lawsuit, he never worked with anthrax.

According to the suit, his apartment was searched in 2002 amid a spate of publicity, a week after a university professor of environmental science voiced her suspicions about him to Sens. Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. Letters containing anthrax had been addressed to the two senators.

"Live television coverage of the June 25, 2002 search generated a huge number of follow-up articles in which Dr. Hatfill's name was consistently and disparagingly linked with the anthrax investigations," the lawsuit says. "These follow-up articles often contained new details about the investigations that were themselves leaked in violation of the Privacy Act."

The lawsuit names 30 reporters as having been involved in stories that "appear to contain illegal disclosures."

[Shermy]

ping.

[Battle Axe]

BHR?????

[Battle Axe]

BHR?????

[Continental Soldier]

Why does the name, Richard Jewell, leap to mind???

[okie01]

Here's wishing Hatfill luck. And, as a taxpayer, I won't begrudge any settlement with him.

But I'd wager he finds out exactly zilch. The media ain't rootin' for him like they did for Patrick Fitzgerald and Joe Wilson.

Indeed, this investigation will go nowhere because the media (along with the government) doesn't have any interest in finding out where it might go.

[jpl]

Indeed, this investigation will go nowhere because the media (along with the government) doesn't have any interest in finding out where it might go.

Quite right; there isn't even truly a real investigation going on anymore.

[TrebleRebel]

Just found this LA dhh.gov presentation which gives the most specific description of the Daschle anthrax I have ever seen. The details me seem arcane - but the fact that 12nm (0.012um) silica primary particles were used is significant. Looks like the "cat is out the bag".

File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - View as HTML
The Weaponized Bugs. C. A. B. Anthrax; Botulism; Hemorrhagic Fevers, ... Used fumed silica grains 0.012 – 0.3 m adhering to spores; Silica act as tiny ...
www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/ publications/pubs-249/Transmission.ppt - Similar pages


slide 31:


Bioweapons: Daschle Spores

1.5 gram /letter
1.5 to 3 mm particles
Processed to grade of 1 trillion spores /gram
Used fumed silica grains 0.012 – 0.3 um adhering to spores
Silica act as tiny ball bearings allowing spores to roll past each other and not clump
Cab-O-Sil ® in Boston, Aerosil

[jpl]

Hmmm, for some odd reason I can't access that document on my computer, even though I have Powerpoint installed.

And I think that President Bush could come on national TV and announce that the anthrax had silica additives, and Ed Lake would still stick with the Matt Meselson/Ken Alibek line until his dying days. It doesn't matter what evidence anyone comes up with.