Doctor Says FBI, CDC Ignored ‘Possible Lead’ in Anthrax Investigation

ABC News ^ | 11/12/01 | ABC News

[imperator2]

Weisfogel is not a suspect, but may have accidently rubbed elbows with one.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for reposting your research here! And thank you for the kudos (blush!)

[marshmallow]

Why am I no longer surprised that the FBI ignores important clues in order to preserve their pre-ordained theories?

Hey, just like Freepers.

[stboz]

There are three Gerald M. Weisfogel's listed in NJ - Franklin Park, Kendall Park and Metuchen. Dr. Gerald Weisfogel is chief of cardiology at the JFK Medical Center in New Jersey...

What's a Chief of Cardiology doing treating people for spider bites? Seems a little off base. Same doctor or not?

[Redbob]

"The FBI has gone from an elite Police Organization to a disorientated an disheartened rag tag bunch of political hacks.
Why should this surprise anyone? The FBI requires their candidates to be lawyers! (Or accountants)

[freefly]

Sounds like the FBI and the CDC are still living up to their reputations.
For a case that has few clues, they don't seem very interested in this one.
"Don't confuse us with facts, our minds are made up!"

[wtee]

What makes his story potentially significant is that his symptoms appeared long before those who were infected by the letters mailed Sept. 30 - actually a week before the terror attacks of Sept. 11.

This appears to be poorly researched. The known letters were mailed Sept. 18 and Oct. 9, not Sept. 30.

[Alamo-Girl]

An excellent observation, stboz! Perhaps he knows the perps from the hospital crowd and suspected they were all bitten by spiders - including himself? A "prescriptions for family and colleagues" thing perhaps? His going on national TV with the story is rather odd also.

[God_isa_Jew]

'The FBI was busy looking for a redneck rightwinger from Alabama or somewhere that has a home chenistry set in his basement.'

To the liberal mind, conservative Americans are the only credible threat to their continued life of comfort and hedonistic abandon. It is questionable that the FBI will ever recover from the pro-global socialist bias that dominated its priority setting during the last administration.

[Peach]

My husband's primary care physician is the Chief of Cardiology at our local hospital; it isn't unusual for men particularly to choose a cardiologist for medical attention. Did anyone on this thread actually see this doctor on GMA yesterday? I did and would be interested in other observations. I thought he was credible, but what do I know.

[gumbo]

GREAT SUMMARY! (post 22)

THIS MAY BE BIG! I came home a few minutes ago and saw this article linked off Drudge, and got so excited, I posted it post-haste! (Did a search, but it didn't come up for some reason -- thanks for the ping -- that way I found it had been posted already and so had mine pulled.)

This links the two articles from last night -- one that didn't name the doctor, so we were wondering if there were two separate incidents.

[gumbo]

What's a Chief of Cardiology doing treating people for spider bites? Seems a little off base. Same doctor or not?

I wondered about that too. The Gerald M. Weisfogel who has offices in Metuchen and Kendall Park (infospace.com lists his office as Franklin Park, which is adjacent) appears to specialize in "cardiac electrophysiology (EKGs) and internal medicine" according to this site.

So possibly he does work as an internist as well as cardiology.

And maybe the perp was having heart palpitations from all the excitement he is experiencing over his deadly activities!

[gumbo]

after the CDC became aware that Weisfogel was telling his story to Good Morning America, the agency tested his blood for anthrax antibodies. He was told it could be weeks before the results of the tests are in

I thought the Mayo Clinic had developed a new test that diagnosed anthrax within hours or even minutes?

I admit, I don't know -- the Mayo test may not be the same as an antibody test administered to someone who has already recovered from the disease.

[afraidfortherepublic]

the first man to die was also diagnosed as having meningitis.

And the baby was diagnosed with a spider bite.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Perhaps Eric Rudolph has set up a bioweapons lab in his secret North Carolina fortress.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The block lettering may indicate that he is a tutor for elementary level students.

Or an engineering or architecture student.

[history_matters]

I've been thinking about Kathy and how she got infected. What about a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop she may have frequented. Perhaps the perp was there and left an area contaminated where she was exposed.

[Alamo-Girl]

I agree with you that this may be BIG! Thank you for the kudos on the summary! Hugs!!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for the suggestions!