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American Morning

FBI Completes Inventory Check, Finds Guns and Laptops Missing

Aired July 18, 2001 - 09:00   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: First, though, details on the latest embarrassment for the FBI from CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

Hi, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Well, hundreds of FBI weapons and laptop computers are missing. The FBI alerted Justice -- the Justice Department yesterday after an extensive four-week inventory search. Now specifically, 449 weapons are missing. Now those include machine guns, rifles and pistols. At least one has been used in a homicide. Also unaccounted for, 184 laptops. At least one contains classified information on two closed investigations and it is possible that three other laptops also contain sensitive information.

Attorney General John Ashcroft has ordered a department wide review of inventory controls. Now that would not only cover the FBI but agencies including the DEA and the INS.

An FBI official says the weapons were lost for a variety of reasons - everything from agents retiring and never turning in their weapons to guns being stolen out of agent's vehicles.

Now as for the laptops, officials say that many may have simply been discarded because they were outdated, but the paperwork was never properly filled out.

Well this latest embarrassment is expected to be discussed at a Senate judiciary hearing today. Now that hearing, which was scheduled before this latest revelation, will focus on FBI management problems. It starts in about one hour from now - Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thanks so much.

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