Scientists' Panel Defends Researcher in Bacteria Smuggling Case/ Urges Letters To Ashcroft

The New York Times ^ | August 30, 2003 | By KENNETH CHANG

[Princeton]

The human rights committee of the National Academy of Sciences is protesting the government's treatment of a researcher who faces trial on charges of smuggling vials of live plague bacteria from Tanzania and lying to federal agents about them.

The scientist, Dr. Thomas C. Butler, a leading plague researcher who is chief of the infectious diseases division at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, set off a scare in January, when he reported 30 vials of bacteria missing. Later, Dr, Butler told F.B.I. agents that the vials might have already been destroyed, according to the bureau's affidavit. He was arrested and jailed for five days before being released on $100,000 bail.

[WL-law]

He lied to Federal agents to cover up some yet unspecified misconduct, and set up a major scare in bioterrorism ranks to cover up his personal indiscretion or misconduct. Now Turley says that "well, he isn't a terrorist, so all should be forgiven." Huh?

What about, i.e., people who shut down airports because of personal problems that they think they can solve via some stunt, or someone who calls in a bomb scare to take a day off from school or work. They're not "real" terrorists either. I guess Turley thinks they should all get a free pass.