Judge doubts Hatfill suit will harm anthrax probe

[Whoa_Nelly]

WASHINGTON - A federal judge said yesterday that he is not convinced that allowing a lawsuit by Dr. Steven J. Hatfill to proceed will endanger the FBI's investigation of the anthrax letters that killed five people in 2001.

During a motions hearing, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton expressed sympathy for Hatfill's claim that government leaks have wrecked his career, the basis for the suit he filed in August against Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Justice Department, the FBI and other law enforcement officials.

"I totally understand how his life has been, at least at this point, virtually destroyed," Walton said. "I know I'm not inclined to give an open-ended stay," which would freeze the lawsuit indefinitely.

<snip>
In response, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark E. Nagle told the judge that later yesterday the Justice Department would deliver to him an affidavit containing secret additional information on the progress of the anthrax case to justify the delay.

more...
http://www.sunspot.net/news/health/bal-te.hatfill27jan27,0,5108464.story?coll=bal-health-headlines

[arcane1]

1. there's an anthrax probe??

who knew? They've been quiet on the subject, it seems...

howmany people could've possibly handled this stuff, anyway?

[DevilsAdvocate2]

2. I hope Hatfill

Nails their asses to the wall. Person of Interest? What the hell is that? Obviously his reputation is tarnished. Hell, would YOU hire him? A prime example of what happens when people are tried in the media instead of in a court of law. Scott Peterson is a simliar case. I don't know if he's guiilty or innocent, but I figure I'll let a jury decide after they hear ALL of the evidence. Of course, if either one of them is guilty they deserve what they get :)

[DoctorMyEyes]

6. I hope it gets HIS ass nailed to the wall

There's a LOT of evidence pointing to Hatfill and he's getting a free ride in my opinion. Let the fucker sue - I hope his narcissism (sp?) and ego lead him to his own conviction.

[mike_c]

3. I wonder if they'll send Colin Powell to present...

...the secret information? He still has that vial of white powder I presume....

[worldgonekrazy]

4. The anthrax that came from U.S. labs?

The anthrax that was sent to prominent media outlets?

The anthrax that was sent to ONLY DEMOCRATIC Senators...Senate Majority Leader (at the time) Daschle and Patrick Leahy?

Oh yeah, that anthrax.

Edited for spelling of Leahy's name (I think it is right now}

[MasonJar]

5. I am beginning to think that none of these pugs (WH,Congress,

Supreme Court) have any empathy for anyone; they do not think twice about ruining someone's life as long as they can get away with whatever they want. They are a whole bunch of sociopaths; history will tell it like it is (unless they get to write it.)

[DoctorMyEyes]

7. Hatfill Defenders - Please read this

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/messageanthrax.html

[pacifictiger]

8. call me really really really skeptical

but all that evidence against Hatfill was just too convenient. From what I've been able to gather, his background behavior just does not fit. I'm leaning more and more towards a government plant theory - opposition party, news media. Nothing to a republican leader? It backfired with the post office deaths of course so they had to pretend to do a real investigation instead of just trying to create paranoia. Maybe I'm suspicious because I've been reading too much history of various cia and covert misdeeds carried out by the bush cartel over 40 years, and documents surrounding vietnam, not to discount it. Believe it or not, twenty years ago I believed that the government was honest. And then 10 years ago learned from my brother inlaw the gag order placed on the surviving crew of the USS Liberty. No more do I believe, without verification, anything the public is told. That is why cheney is SO dangerous in getting his way to conceal documents.