Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Anthrax Probe

Aired May 12, 2003 - 13:04   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Officials looking into the anthrax mailings are considering draining a Maryland upon in their ongoing search for the culprit.
CNN's Kelli Arena joins us now from Washington with more on that.

Hi, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, that pond is located in Frederick, Maryland. The mayor of this Washington suburb says that city officials are in talks with the FBI about possibly draining the pond. The FBI has searched the area at least four times since December. It received a tip back then about someone allegedly dumping laboratory equipment into a pond there, and sources say that among the items that had been found by the FBI were a large plastic tub with two openings in the side, similar, they said, to those tubs that are used to limit exposure while performing scientific tests. Sources also say that agents found some vials that were wrapped in plastic.

The FBI has not charged anyone in the anthrax attacks, and government sources say that no arrests are imminent. Investigators were working off a list of 20 individuals. Attorney General Ashcroft Publicly, though, publicly named one as a person of interest, former Army researcher Steven Hatfill. Government sources that interest in him remains very high. Hatfill has repeatedly said that he's innocent -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Kelli, since the initial search of that pond, investigators have been back up to four times. What kept bringing them back? And did they keep finding more and more substantial evidence?

ARENA: Well, they had a hard time, because, of course, we went through a very long, hard winter. And so at one point they were cracking through the ice to try to get in and see what they could find. What I've been told is that what brought them back as many times was not that they kept finding useful -- you know, objects, but more that they just couldn't get there and see anything, because the conditions were too harsh, too much of it was frozen over, and they decided to wait until the spring. They just went back the week before last to do another search to see what they could find, and that's why there's this discussion about possibly draining it, so they could really get in and see what's in there. But there's been no concrete decision made that's actually the action the FBI will take -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now you say no arrests are imminent, but are there some individuals who may be of intense interest?

ARENA: Well, we know that because government sources have told us, that Steven Hatfill is of intense interest. But as I said, they had a working group of about 20 or so 30 individuals that they felt had a certain expertise, had certain characteristics that may have made them interesting to look at. The FBI has never publicly named anyone in this case. They have not said that they have any suspects. When the attorney general was asked about Steven Hatfill, because his name had been circulated, he did describe him as a person of interest. But it's because they were specifically asked about him. But they haven't come out and said, well, we're looking at all of these individuals.

So it's very -- everyone's really closed mouth about this, they're very careful. It has been a long investigation. But I just spoke to one former agent who was working in the Washington field office all during this investigation, and he said to me, he says, you know, they really don't have anything concrete. And draining that pond would seem to him to be more of an act of desperation than actually based on any real solid lead information that they got from that location.

PHILLIPS: All right, justice correspondent Kelli Arena. Thanks, Kelli.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 12, 2003 - 13:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Officials looking into the anthrax mailings are considering draining a Maryland upon in their ongoing search for the culprit.
CNN's Kelli Arena joins us now from Washington with more on that.

Hi, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, that pond is located in Frederick, Maryland. The mayor of this Washington suburb says that city officials are in talks with the FBI about possibly draining the pond. The FBI has searched the area at least four times since December. It received a tip back then about someone allegedly dumping laboratory equipment into a pond there, and sources say that among the items that had been found by the FBI were a large plastic tub with two openings in the side, similar, they said, to those tubs that are used to limit exposure while performing scientific tests. Sources also say that agents found some vials that were wrapped in plastic.

The FBI has not charged anyone in the anthrax attacks, and government sources say that no arrests are imminent. Investigators were working off a list of 20 individuals. Attorney General Ashcroft Publicly, though, publicly named one as a person of interest, former Army researcher Steven Hatfill. Government sources that interest in him remains very high. Hatfill has repeatedly said that he's innocent -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Kelli, since the initial search of that pond, investigators have been back up to four times. What kept bringing them back? And did they keep finding more and more substantial evidence?

ARENA: Well, they had a hard time, because, of course, we went through a very long, hard winter. And so at one point they were cracking through the ice to try to get in and see what they could find. What I've been told is that what brought them back as many times was not that they kept finding useful -- you know, objects, but more that they just couldn't get there and see anything, because the conditions were too harsh, too much of it was frozen over, and they decided to wait until the spring. They just went back the week before last to do another search to see what they could find, and that's why there's this discussion about possibly draining it, so they could really get in and see what's in there. But there's been no concrete decision made that's actually the action the FBI will take -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now you say no arrests are imminent, but are there some individuals who may be of intense interest?

ARENA: Well, we know that because government sources have told us, that Steven Hatfill is of intense interest. But as I said, they had a working group of about 20 or so 30 individuals that they felt had a certain expertise, had certain characteristics that may have made them interesting to look at. The FBI has never publicly named anyone in this case. They have not said that they have any suspects. When the attorney general was asked about Steven Hatfill, because his name had been circulated, he did describe him as a person of interest. But it's because they were specifically asked about him. But they haven't come out and said, well, we're looking at all of these individuals.

So it's very -- everyone's really closed mouth about this, they're very careful. It has been a long investigation. But I just spoke to one former agent who was working in the Washington field office all during this investigation, and he said to me, he says, you know, they really don't have anything concrete. And draining that pond would seem to him to be more of an act of desperation than actually based on any real solid lead information that they got from that location.

PHILLIPS: All right, justice correspondent Kelli Arena. Thanks, Kelli.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com