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FBI Arrests Man Involved in Anthrax Hoax
Aired December 05, 2001 - 14:06 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I want in our Eileen O'Connor, our national correspondent. She is following a breaking story involving anthrax -- Eileen.
EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we have learned from the FBI that they've picked up Clayton Lee Wagner. Now, Clayton Lee Wagner was on the FBI 10 most wanted list. The attorney general says that recent information indicates that he is responsible for sending letters, anthrax-hoax letters, to abortion clinics across the United States after September 11.
Hundreds of abortion clinic received letters that were said to be tainted by anthrax. It turned out those letters were not tainted by anthrax. This was a hoax. But, Clayton Lee Wagner is known as a person who is anti-abortion. He's associated with anti-abortion groups. He was considered armed and dangerous. He also escaped from where he was being held in custody February 22, 2001. He alluded police for all these months because he is said to be an expert in survivalist techniques.
Now, we know that it is the FBI field office in Cincinnati, Ohio that is dealing with us. So, an assumption can be made that he was picked up in that region. But the FBI right now is not giving out any further details, just to say that they do have him in custody. And, as you know, the attorney general said he was wanted -- allegedly, he is involved in this. He apparently -- the reason they found out about this is that he apparently went to the home of a friend while he was on the run and told him that he was the person who was responsible for all of these hoax letters recently sent to the abortion clinics.
BLITZER: So, we don't yet know precisely where he was picked up, where he was captured? But, under normal circumstances, they would have a news conference at some point and provide those details.
O'CONNOR: We're expecting some information in the next few minutes. I spoke to people in the Cincinnati field office. Everyone there, as you can understand, are in meetings trying to determine, you know, what they will be releasing to the public and what information.
But we do know that he was picked up, is in custody. And he was being sought, put on that 10 most wanted list. He's been featured on "America's Most Wanted" several times since he escaped from custody before. BLITZER: And I think it's important to remind our viewers, Eileen, that the attorney general, other U.S. law enforcement authorities have said that even though these are hoaxes, these individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
O'CONNOR: Absolutely, because as the attorney general has pointed out, it has wasted valuable resources, investigative resources and response time from emergency technicians like the fire department, the police department and paramedics in towns where these hoax letters are being sent.
BLITZER: These are no laughing matters because, as you note, every time you get one of these hoaxes, the law enforcement departments and the investigators have to spend an enormous amount of time just checking it out. And it causes a lot of aggravation for a lot of individuals as well.
O'CONNOR: It does. It does. And, you know, this was -- these hoax letters, especially to the abortion clinics, were -- some of the critics of the attorney general who has very -- he's against abortion in his own views, and has come under criticism for that -- that was being seen as a litmus test by some critics. But he aggressively said that -- he said he was aggressively going to go after Clayton Lee Wagner and that this was -- and would do what he could to protect these clinics and the laws on abortion.
BLITZER: And as far as Mr. Wagner is concerned, was he acting alone? Do they believe he was acting alone or was he part of some organization, part of any bigger group?
O'CONNOR: Well, he does have -- when he left his cell on February 22, 2001 when he escaped, police say that there was some literature associated with some other anti-abortion groups.
But in this instance, he indicated to his friend -- at least this is what his friend said -- that he was acting alone. And he has been out on the run. I mean, we don't know of any information linking him to other people. And he didn't indicate that at least to -- in the statements that his friend gave.
BLITZER: Eileen O'Connor, thanks for the good reporting. And, of course, we will be standing by for any official news conferences or other briefings on this breaking development.
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