Anthrax Investigation A 'Cold Case?'

5 Years, 53,000 Leads, 5,000 Subpoenas Later, FBI Is Empty-Handed

(CBS)  Three years ago, FBI agents slogged through the woods to a fishing pond in suburban Maryland, where they hoped to find the hidden lab equipment used in the 2001 anthrax attacks. But, as CBS News correspondent Jim Stewart reports, they pumped the pond dry and even sifted through the mud at the bottom ... and found nothing

Five years, 53,000 leads, and 6,000 subpoenas after those attacks, they still have no arrests.

Things are so cold, law enforcement officials tell CBS News, that barring the discovery of new evidence, the anthrax investigation could be declared a "Cold Case" and put in the inactive files.

So who did it? Former Attorney General John Ashcroft once singled out Dr. Steven Hatfill, a bioweapons specialist, as a "person of interest." But there have been no charges.

Former FBI counter-terrorism executive and now CBS News consultant Mike Rolince says no case has frustrated the FBI more.

"We now know that someone, or ones, can conduct an attack like this and for least the first five years, get away with it," Rolince says.

The FBI says it remains committed to solving the crime. In a written statement, Joseph Persichini, Jr., acting assistant director of the FBI’s Washington field office said: "Today, the FBI’s commitment to solving this case is undiminished ... While no arrests have been made, the dedicated investigators who have worked tirelessly on this case, day-in and day-out, continue to go the extra mile in pursuit of every lead."

The bureau never had more than scant physical evidence, like the envelopes the anthrax was mailed in, and the terse letters inside - "Death to America" read one - and the spores themselves. But they were never able to trace the anthrax back to the attacker.

"It's true that a vast majority of the investigation early on was figuring out the science," Rolince says.

Nor did the administration ever entirely figure out what to do in case of another such attack. Despite a $5.6 billion effort to stockpile vaccines, just a small amount is available. Only the Pentagon has enough on hand for the troops.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff hints no one may ever be indicted.

"There are times that we may know a lot about a crime or an event that occurred, but we may not have the admissible evidence that we need to prove it in court," Chertoff says.

But the thinking among investigators is more stark: If we can't agree among ourselves who did it, they reason, how could we ever convince a jury?

[drgoodwin12]

What a wonderful world we live in.It's been this way ever since Bush took office and looked at the world though his night vision goggles.It only took him 11 days in office to decide to invade Iraq(source:"Against all Enemies"). I have to applaud the media since 9/11 they have with vigour went after any story of corruption,prisoner abuse,illegal detentions and the eroding of our constitution.They have pursued the ties to Abrahoff,bldg.7 and the real truth about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan that they must be applauded.What a wonderful world.

[feres_reborn]

I think this has to do with the anthrax vaccine forced upon the military despite science proving its ineffectiveness and its consequences (source: Vaccine A by Gary Matsumoto 2004), namely autoimmune disease. The VA calls it fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue for presumption of service connection for Gulf War Syndrome (it does exist as my VA award letter states: irritable bowel as secondary to Gulf War Syndrome). The future for America has never looked bleaker for military veterans. The American people lack the courage to end the practice of the Fere's Doctrine which allows for and makes LEGAL medical experimentation on our military personnel without informed consent. Thus, by defeating the Nazis we have become like that enemy allowing our nation to be over-run by mentors of the infamous Nazi concentration camp doctor, Josef Mengele. That is the consequence of Project Paperclip after WWII.

Thank you CBS for reporting on this story. Now, do you think you can focus on Gulf War Syndrome before the government sends another press release stating Gulf War Syndrome doesn't exist like they did last week? Or do you fear you will be their target as the WTC was in 2001?

[thezguy]

I was mailed anthrax in 1998. It came from Nigeria. The letter was stamped and postmarked from there. I am now on 100% disability.

Outside of the intial phone call I made to the FBI reporting the incident (and faxing the letter into the office) I have never spoken with another agent about the incident. I've filed additional reports.

I understand that there are 20 known cases of anthrax exposure. I am wondering about the number of unreported or univestigated cases. How many are there?

Like any survivor of a violent crime I look for resolve and followup.

I wish the FBI Gods speed on this one and hope the follow ups on these cases is stronger than what I have recieved. At the very least, what I know about. I understand there is an aura of silence around ongoing investigations.

From my chair and point of view it is deafening.

MIchael Zangari

Michael Zangari