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CNN Live Today

FBI Agents Look at Former Researcher's Apartment

Aired August 02, 2002 - 10:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to turn our attention right now to the anthrax investigation. Authorities are taking a closer look at a scientist who used to work at the Army's biowarfare defense lab. Investigators have not named Steven Hatfill as a suspect in the case.

We go to CNN Justice Correspondent, Kelli Arena, who has been tracking the story -- Kelli, good morning.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, FBI investigators are sifting through evidence that they gathered yesterday from Steven Hatfill's residence.

Hatfill is a researcher who, as you said, used to work at Fort Detrick where the U.S. Army has a bioweapons defense lab. Sources say that Hatfill has become a central focus of the anthrax investigation, though they say that other individuals are also under scrutiny. There have been no arrests made since the anthrax attacks last fall which killed five people, and sources say that no arrests are imminent.

This is the second time that agents have searched Hatfill's apartment, the first search was consensual. This time, though, agents came armed with a search warrant. FBI agents also searched a friend of Hatfill's apartment, and a storage facility that Hatfill uses in Florida -- Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Kelli, this is all striking me as so odd as how it is being handled, of course, it is a situation we haven't seen before but somebody, you know, they -- he is a potential suspect, he is not a suspect. It seems like, Oh, look at us, we are searching a place right now, but we have nothing to tell you. It seems like a lot of bells and whistles with not many results.

ARENA: Well, Daryn, the FBI and Justice Department have not made any official comments about the investigation or about Steven Hatfill. We had received a tip that agents might be heading his way again, and so followed that up, and it just so happens that the news media -- when you see -- when 14 vehicles show up with FBI agents going in, someone is going to call and say, Hey, what's going on?

And so this isn't something that investigators were out there pushing. This is something that we have been watching. Obviously everyone is looking for a break in this anthrax case. It has been ten months. We have heard nothing in terms of suspects or arrests, so it has been a frustrating situation for, obviously, investigators most of all, but for people looking for some, you know, closure to this whole situation. You had anthrax going through the mail, and it caused a great deal of concern, as you know, among many groups. So, this is not something that they are out there pushing, Daryn, this is something that we have been following and reporting on and no official comment, as I said, from either FBI or Justice on this matter.

KAGAN: All right. Kelli Arena in Washington. Thank you so much.

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