Hatfill files complaint against Ashcroft

MSNBC ^ | 8/25 | MSNBC

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

Hatfill files complaint against Ashcroft

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES Aug. 25 — Dr. Stephen Hatfill, who the FBI has named as a “person of interest” in the investigation into last fall’s anthrax attacks, has filed an ethics complaint against Attorney General John Ashcroft and others in the Justice Department for leaking information to the press and sullying his reputation.

Hatfill has said that payroll records at his employer, Science Applications International Corp., show that he was at his job in Virginia over the dates that the letters were mailed.

Two weeks ago, Hatfill first identified himself as a target in the investigation, and said that he “had nothing to do in any way, shape or form with the mailing of these anthrax letters.” He also said he “immediately” consented to a polygraph test that the examiner said he passed. Since then, surveillance by the FBI has increased and agents have followed him as closely as four feet away while driving in his car, Clawson said Sunday. Agents have also showed Hatfill’s photo to Princeton, N.J. residents in the area where anthrax spores were found on mailboxes.

The complaint against Ashcroft focuses on his handling of the case and the leaks to the media, Clawson said. For example, when the FBI arrived to search his apartment, the media was waiting, Hatfill said in his first media statement. “The FBI agents promised me that the search would be quiet, private and very low-key. It did not turn out that way,” said Hatfill.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

Blaming Clinton leftovers is getting a little old. The man ultimately responsible is John Ashcroft. Ashcroft should probably be removed from his position.

[NukeMan]

Why the encore performance? Why not just file your papers in court.

I believe the best defense is a good offense. IF he is innocent, it is to his advantage to squawk as loudly as possible, as often as possible. A shrinking violet will not get his reputation back after the FBI has investigated, abused, and ruined him. This also has the further value of having other minds focus on the case and see (perhaps) what the FBI cannot or will not. The point is to minimize the damage in every way possible.

[mrsmith]

"it doesn't make sense that Hatfill if really a guilty party would be filing a complaint against the DOJ or Ahscroft in particular"

Well, Clinton complained about Starr leaking when the leaks were actually coming from the White House- and he and the press knew it.

The strategy worked pretty well for him. Judge Norma and the press hounded Starr, and Clinton was sympathized with and unpunished for lying to that court.

[LaGrone]

I had forgotten about the man's testimony supporting Trafficant before the House Ethics Committee. You are correct; he was a crushed, beaten man who evidently told the truth.

Anyone capable of placing himself in these peoples shoes should be concerned. Think of the last administration (Klintoon) with this new power; heck I don't trust Ashcroft with it.

I believe it is possible Hatfill is being punished and humiliated for the FBI's incompetence and inability to solve the crime. I am no longer in favor of giving up ANY civil rights or freedoms to the war on terrorism!

[aristeides]

Left-wing though it is, CNN just broadcast, through the mouth of Steven Hatfill, the facts that the 9/11 hijackers were in Florida and New Jersey and that Iraq has almost certainly gotten its hands on the Ames strain of anthrax. I bet that's the first a lot of CNN's audience heard of this.

What's more, Wolf Blitzer and his two expert guests, one of them a retired deputy director of the FBI, proceeded, in their discussion of what Hatfill had said, to talk as if it was more than possible that foreign Islamofascists were behind the anthrax letters.

[Lanza]

As I read this thread, I was thinking too bad Traficant's no longer around to rant about this.

[Lanza]

Good points made. I don't believe the guy mailed the letters, but I don't know if he is totally innocent. When he mentioned FBI checking into his finances today (basically ranting that the FBI has checked him out totally and no charges have been filed), they may have found a money trail. Maybe the secret recipe was sold?


He also mentioned the FBI ruining some artwork of his girlfriend's (wrapped in bubble wrap). Could he have given very expensive gifts, lived a little too high on the hog so to speak for his salary (ala Aldridge)? Just pure speculation here as I wonder if they have evidence or not.


The FBI tactics are scary, but I have no idea if he is guilty or not. If no charges are brought against him soon, I will lean toward innocent.

[Lanza]

"I believe the best defense is a good offense"


Maybe Martha Stewart should have tried that.

[not-alone]

I am realizing today all the rights we have given up and it is scary. We are getting more government in our lives everyday. People are searched to fly anywhere yet the bags go on without being searched doesn't make sense. I think it all just a sugar pill. no arrest have been made here in Florida where anthrax started. Yet that idiot can still be paid with our taxes to teach hate. Guns are forbidden in many places, even the smoking laws are overboard. You are right imagine a President like Clinton with another Reno with the Patriot act.

I need to go back and read history again. The Federalist Papers might be a good start.

[not-alone]

I have never bought the no connection to terrorist. Many days I drive by where they lived in Delray, Where the first anthrax victim lived, where Atta rented planes, the Gym they worked out at, the Drug store they got medicine for hand rashes, The National Enquire old building all in a short distance. Yet we never here about it anymore. Hatfill doesn't fit in this. This rounding up people here in our Country in secrecy and not letting us know is not getting many arrest.

[not-alone]

Just reported on breaking news in Florida that the FBI is investigating the site of the frist anthrax attach again.

[vbmoneyspender]

I hate to sound like a cynic, but I suspect the reason why Hatfill was focusing on Ashcroft today in his press conference was so that he could give the liberal press an alternative right-wing target to focus their energies on. With the focus on Ashcroft, the story would no longer be diabolical right-wing scientist anthraxes Americans. Instead, the story will be - diabolical right-wing attorney-general oppresses poor scientist and innocent girlfriend.

[Shermy]

Ah, the Babs R. "Profile"! Take facts you think are true about the suspect, put them in a pseduo-scientific format, call it a "Profile" and Voila!, the frame up.

[DreamWeaver]

But this situation with the 2 young girls in Oregon and now the abusive treatment of Hatfill calls for Ashcrofts removal as well as the higher ups in the FBI.

Sad situation for our country, but I do tend to agree with you , a clean sweap house cleaning of the FBI is in order.

[DreamWeaver]

Thank you both for responding. If Hatfill is indeed innocent and the FBI has "Richard Jewelled" him, then more power to Mr. Hatfill in his efforts against the DOJ, the FBI, AND Mr Ashcroft, if he was a party to it.

I totally agree with you.