Rep.Holt (D-Princeton) wants hearings on FBI anthrax investigation

[IChing]

-Rep. Rush Holt (D-Princeton) wants hearings into what he says is a lack of headway in the FBI's investigation into the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001.

"It seems to me this investigation is not making progress. I can't say for sure. They
won't brief me," Holt told The Times of Trenton for Saturday newspapers.

"Not briefing Congress on the status of the probe into the biggest biological attack in United States history is inexcusable," he said.
>>>>snip

removed from breaking news here is the news link:http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/FRONT01/70303016

[Joanne98]

1. YAY!

[Beelzebud]

2. The anthrax story is IMO the biggest cover-up ever.

The anthrax was the Ames strain. It's a weaponized strain that was grown in the Army's medical research labs.

Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining. Only someone from the inside could get their hands on this stuff.

And look at the targets...

Democratic Majority Leader, and members of the "liberal" media.

[cascadiance]

8. It's worse than that it targetted the two Dems most capable of stopping the Patriot Act!

Before it passed the first time, Senate Majority Leader Daschle, and Judiciary Committee chair Patrick Leahy both received anthrax latters. They were the two Dems that were going to most likely put up opposition to this bill with their leadership positions! The anthrax was a warning to them and other Dems to pass the Patriot Act or else. Now we see how subsequent renditions that have passed have also done dastardly things to threaten our constitutional government like Specter's recent spectre of manipulation to allow the December attorney massacre.

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Also Chair of the Senate Judicial Committee Leahy (D) n/t

[blueinindiana]

3. That was inside job anyone can see that just look who it targeted. NT

[Cass]

4. Now that what I'm talking about!

Go get 'em, Rep. Holt! Drag their slimey asses into the sunlight!

[Doctor_J]

5. The fix was in on this

it was a warning shot to any Dem who was a threat to Il Dunce'.

[Ezlivin]

6. It won't happen - investigating the Anthrax attacks could lead to re-investigating 9/11

And the "powers that be" certainly do not want an independent and wide-ranging investigation.

To them it's all "historical" and "we most move on."

I hate being so damned cynical....

[3waygeek]

15. re-investingating 9/11

implies that it has been investigated previously -- a dubious proposition at best.

[Trillo]

7. Executive Branch investigates itself.

Investigation goes nowhere.

Congress writes letters. AG ignores them.

Executive branch FIRES Justice Department attorneys for political reasons.

My advice to Congress: There's an old saying, it goes something like, "Don't listen to what they say, watch what they do." LEARN.

[IChing]

9. Removed from LBN even though it clearly states it is from today's paper

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS03

and

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070304/NEWS03/703040309/1007

[Fenris]

13. You're wrong.

The story you posted was more than 12 hours old.

http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&aq=holt%20princeton%20anthrax&ie=UTF-8&rls=TSHA,TSHA:2006-07,TSHA:en&q=holt+princeton+anthrax&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

Don't use GD to call out LBN mods.

[Gregorian]

10. Oh my. Is this too good to be true? Accountability?

I'll believe it when I see it. How many more years?

It's almost like justice isn't quite dead yet.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Wow. Just having someone call it the biggest biological attack in the

United States is an improvement.

[porphyrian]

12. Good, it's about fucking time. - n/t

[troubleinwinter]

14. more:

"Several earlier attempts to receive information failed. In September and October 2006, Holt formally requested that the FBI brief Congress on the investigation. He was denied.

In December, a bipartisan group of 32 House and Senate members called on Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to direct that the FBI brief Congress on the investigation. That request also was denied."

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

16. RWers I personally know cringe in horror when I mention the anthrax attacks.

Yeah, people, you were had, big time.

K & R. MKJ

[autorank]

17. Good for Holt! It's about time and it's taking the Democrats to do it!

How can this go unsolved. Geez, get "the Dog" on it. He'll find out who did it and crack some heads.

This was a crime of intimidation. Solve this and you've got the one piece of the puzzle that
explains all others, perhaps.

[IChing]

19. And this drags it out of the memory hole that

the public's consciousness has totally forgotten or ignored
on why their civil rights have disappeared
because of the actions of the anthrax attacks and 911.

[autorank]

20. Raising consciousness...

I like about everything Hold does except for e-voting;)

This is highly appropriate and he's the kind of quiet guy who can press it.

He ran an arms control shop at Princeton, I believe, so nothing can really bother him that
much after contemplating the total annihilation of the species.

Excellent post. You're raising consciousness too!

[Pooka Fey]

18. K&R hope this happens.

[wildbilln864]

21. kick!

:hi:

[mhatrw]

22. No successful terrorist attacks since 9/11 my ass!

[Flarney]

23. K & R!

This is HUGE.

[Ganja Ninja]

24. About time!

K & R

[yardwork]

25. The first target was the National Enquirer, who printed embarrassing stories about the Bushes

When investigating a murder, look closely at the very first murder. The first to die from the anthrax attack was a senior editor at the National Enquirer, shortly after the tabloid published embarrassing photos and stories about the Bush twins. The tabloid was rumored to have more embarrassing stuff about the Bushes ready to publish. As a result of the anthrax contamination, which killed the editor, the federal government took over the entire National Enquirer building in Florida. The material in the Enquirer's vaults has never been released - thousands of photos and documents that have never seen the light of day ever since.

Then, weeks later, more anthrax attacks. A flurry of letters sent to Democratic congressmen and newscasters. Everyone who died during this second wave of attacks was an unintentional victim - people who worked in the postal processing facilities or people who received mail contaminated by other letters.

I think that the murder of the National Enquirer editor was intentional. I think that the second wave of attacks was a cover-up to distract attention from the first death.

[mistertrickster]

31. You are correct, sir. The first round of anthrax attacks all went to

media. The Enquirer had run at least one story suggesting pot use by the twins by this time. Jenna was doing community service for a second drinking misdemeanor.

Why would Al Qaeda send anthrax to the media? Wouldn't they be more interested in attacking their perceived enemies? Al Qaeda has a special hatred for media and Democrats, when these are the traditional targets of the reich-wing?

[wildbilln864]

26. kick!

Who are the Anthrax murderers? :shrug:

[FredStembottom]

27. This has always been The Big One for me.

Partly because I work in the postal/air freight/trucking industry - and everyone in my industry is astounded that the investigation has disappeared and no safety measures have been instituted.

Anyone else old enough to remember the Tylenol poisonings?

If you weren't: some genuine nutcase took bottles of Tylenol off of store shelves, spiked them with poison and put them back - people died. About 20 years ago.

The coverage of this investtigation was NON-STOP. 24/7. It was the only story in the news until the guy was found.

An entire new set of laws and procedures came into being as a result.

Those inner seals on everything in the store were instigated to prevent another such poisoning.

But NOW: no perp. Stalled investigation being kept secret. And NO New safety rules????????????


On edit:

Oops! The tylenol poisoner my or may not have been caught!

From Wikipedia:

The crime has never been solved, although an opportunistic extortionist with no proven connection to the deaths had made a money demand. This person, one James W. Lewis, was arrested and ended up serving 13 years of a 20-year prison term for the extortion.

[mistertrickster]

29. No kidding. There's only 6 people in the US who could have done

this.

How hard is it to track the MFers down?

[wildbilln864]

30. kick!

:hi:

[Cerridwen]

32. Do I read and understand correctly that the US Attorney General

is not responsible/answerable to Congress? Someone help me out here with history, law and precedent, please.

Several earlier attempts to receive information failed. In September and October 2006, Holt formally requesting that the FBI brief Congress on the investigation. He was denied.

In December, a bipartisan group of 32 House and Senate members called on Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to direct that the FBI brief Congress on the investigation. That request was also denied.

[pberq]

33. Let's hope something actually comes of this

[wildbilln864]

34. kick!

:hi:

[yardwork]

35. kick for Tuesday