This sort of thing seems to be a recurring theme in high-profile law enforcement cases. Richard Jewel and the 1996 Olympic Park bombing comes to mind, as do the Beltway Shootings by Muhammed and Malvo, in which Chief Moose and crew had everyone looking for white guy in a white van.
I wonder how often this happens in non-high-profile cases, where you never learn of the official idiocy in pursuing the cases.
Ali Al-Timimi, according to the FBI, is suspected the anthrax weapons suspect of the other investigative squad.
The Al-Timimi prosecutor and the Al-Timimi defense counsel are duking it out this week in Alexandria (VA) over an indictment filed on June 26, 2008 of Dr. Sami Al-Arian who refuses to testify before a grand jury. The prosecutor was the one who had the recent success on appeal in the Fourth Circuit’s affirmance of the conviction of Al-Timimi’s colleague Benhkhala.
Turley says he can’t say who the targets of the grand jury investigation are — only the witnesses and family can choose to do so.
Al-Arian Arraigned On Contempt Charges Tampa Tribune July 1, 2008
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/01/me-al-arian-arraigned-on-contempt-charges/