U.S. Scientist Questioned

U.S. Scientist Questioned

Former Researcher Denies Connection to Anthrax Attacks

ABC News
December 20, 2001
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/US_ANTHRAX011220.html

WASHINGTON — A scientist formerly involved in U.S. anthrax research has told ABCNEWS he is now under investigation by the FBI regarding the recent attacks-by-mail, but has denied involvement in the deadly incidents.

Federal authorities are now convinced the anthrax mailed in poison letters was made in the United States, and told ABCNEWS they are investigating a former anthrax researcher who allegedly threatened to use the potentially deadly bacteria.

Unknown to all but a few government officials, the United States has been producing small quantities of weapons-grade anthrax for several years at two secret locations, one of them the Army's Dugway Proving Ground in the Utah desert.

The FBI is now interviewing current and former scientists in Utah and at the second secret anthrax-producing facility, Battelle in Columbus, Ohio, a nonprofit corporation that does the work for the CIA and the military.

An estimated 200 U.S. scientists dealt with the anthrax program over the last five years and federal authorities have told ABCNEWS they are now investigating the activities of a senior research scientist who FBI sources say was twice fired from Battelle and who allegedly made a threat to use anthrax in the days after Sept. 11.

Agents Search American Scientist’s Home

According to an FBI affidavit, agents searched the home of one former top Battelle scientist in late September after he allegedly made threats about using anthrax. Agents said they found suspicious chemicals but no anthrax, according to the sources.

The scientist confirmed to ABCNEWS' Brian Ross that agents had searched his home and taken his personal computer, but he denied any involvement in the attacks. He also insisted he had quit his post at Battelle, and was not fired.

Authorities told ABCNEWS the program, designed to protect U.S. soldiers, grew out of the Gulf War. The idea was to replicate the kind of anthrax Iraq might make and one day use against U.S. soldiers.

According to documents obtained by ABCNEWS, the U.S. scientists have been making a powdered aerosol form of anthrax, and also have the unique strain of the bacteria found in deadly letters sent to two U.S. senators.

Scientists who worked on the project were vaccinated against anthrax and are immune to the bacteria.

One of the few to be told of the classified program, the chairman of a House subcommittee on national security, said the research is very important.

"The program's been going on a number of years, thank God," said Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn. "I mean, the purpose of the program is for us to know how to deal with an attack."

But the Army won't talk about the anthrax production, and has not shared what it learned with civilian authorities.

The Army says all of the anthrax it has made since 1997 is accounted for. But what the FBI is really looking for is one of the 200 or so U.S. scientists who have been secretly making anthrax — looking for the one who may have used the bacteria to wreak havoc.

ABCNEWS' Brian Ross contributed to this report.

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