Officials Expand Search for Ricin Source

[UpInArms]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top14feb06,1,1842243.story (free registration required)

WASHINGTON — Unable to find a piece of mail connected to the Senate ricin scare, investigators say they are expanding their probe to include the possibility that someone placed the poison in an office mailroom or that it arrived in an older envelope or package.

"We are taking a look at every possible angle," said Michael Mason, chief of the FBI's Washington field office.

The ricin was discovered in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office. Law enforcement officials say no letter or note has been found indicating how it got there, who was behind it and whether the Tennessee Republican was the target.

"We have not found a hot letter," Mason said Thursday.

...more...

So how did Frist know it was ricin?

[maddezmom]

1. hmmm good question, when did Frist declare it was ricin?

<<Investigators now must consider if the ricin was placed on the machine by someone or if it had spilled out of an older letter and been there for a long time.>>

Was someone trying to change the media focus from the computer leaks in Frist's office?

[UpInArms]

4. here's what is on Frist's webpage

February 03, 2004 - 12:26:21 AM:
Dirksen Senate Office Building Closed



Earlier today a suspected dangerous substance was discovered in the office of Senator Frist in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. This substance is being subjected to scientific testing but has preliminarily been identified as a form of ricin. While further testing is being conducted and this matter is being investigated, access to the Dirksen Senate Office Building will be restricted. The US Capitol Police and the Senate community are exercising an abundance of caution while addressing this matter. Further information will posted to this site and to the US Capitol Police public information line at 202-228-1725 as it becomes available.

at 12:26 AM???

then we go to the Moonie Times

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040203-011808-8018r.htm

February 03, 2004

Frist confirms presence of ricin at office

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Tuesday that the substance found near his office was a deadly poison but that none of the staffers exposed were sick and that the Senate would continue to conduct business.

<snip>

The powder was noticed Monday afternoon and was tested repeatedly by Capitol Hill Police, and samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and the Army's chemical and biological weapons at Fort Detrick, Md., for testing. Not every sample tested positive for the substance but the results were consistent enough for Frist to announce his belief that it was the deadly poison.

...more...

and the AP Story

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-capitol-suspicious-powder,0,1512420.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

Poison Ricin Found in Sen. Frist's Office

February 3, 2004, 1:39 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- A white powder found in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office tested Tuesday as the deadly poison ricin, forcing cancellation of most Senate business in the second such scare from a lethal toxin to hit the capital.

<snip>

Although more tests were being conducted, Frist said he was positive the substance was ricin and officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said several of their tests identified it as ricin. They said they were awaiting the results of additional confirmatory testing.

...more...

[hellsbells]

12. Hmmmmm ... might have "north Korean" fingerprints on it?

Ricin ... rice ... asians ... North Korea ... ?

Just free associating.

[Loonman]

2. That's because it's probably a GOP plant

From the Rove gang.

[rppper]

3. nearly 3 years and counting since daschle got the ......

....anthrax letter and guess what...no suspect. lets see how fast ashcrofts DOJ gets to the bottom of his buddy bill's dirty letter.....

[R Hickey]

5. Texas Tech University in Lubbock is my suspect

I read here yesterday, that there is a castor-bean growing, ricin production facility in Texas.

If top Repubilcans were pretending to be poisoning themselves, I would imagine they would get their ricin from there.

[robpopulace]

6. obvious...

"We have not found a hot letter," Mason said Thursday.

Has anybody considered the ricin came from a letter that was sent from Frist's office?

Edited for poor spelling.

[mainer]

7. my theory, fwiw

A young college-age intern working in Frist's office "discovered" the powder on a bulk mailing machine, according to today's news, and she promptly raised the alarm, earning lots of praise for her "quick thinking and action."

Now, how many of us who see some white powder lying around an office (powder NOT contained in incoming mail, but just lying around) and would immediately scream for the police? I think most of us would just assume some jerk spilled the Cremora and we'd wipe it up.

I suspect it's a pitiful plea for attention. Take a closer look at that intern...

[robpopulace]

8. sounds reasonable

Munchhausen-by-mailing machine.

I like it.

[newyawker99]

9. Hi absentee_voter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SoCalDem]

10. Psssst.. Look in Frist's briefcase

:)

[Thor_MN]

11. Any other reasons Frist's office might need a rigorous cleaning?

hmmmm???