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American Morning
Interview with Clint Van Zandt
Aired August 12, 2002 - 07:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the anthrax investigation. It's just about 16 minutes past the hour.
Just a few minute ago, we spoke to a friend of Dr. Steven Hatfill about the intense scrutiny he is under and the toll it's taking on the former Army scientist.
Now, we're going to focus in on the bureau's handling of the investigation. Let's turn to Clint Van Zandt, a former FBI profiler. He joins us from Washington this morning.
Welcome back -- good to see you, Clint.
CLINT VAN ZANDT, FORMER FBI PROFILER: Hi, Paula, thanks.
ZAHN: All right, you heard Mr. Hatfill's impassioned defense yesterday, and you heard his friend speak out on his behalf earlier this morning.
VAN ZANDT: Yes.
ZAHN: My question to you: Does it seem pretty clear to you, based on what you've seen and heard, that the FBI thinks they got the right guy here, potentially as a main person of interest?
VAN ZANDT: Well, main person of interest I think is a good way to put it. If the FBI had probable cause, you know, an arrest warrant would be issued, and Mr. Hatfill or someone else would be in custody at this time.
We are told by the bureau that over the past nine months or so since this incident -- these incidents happened that they have reduced the pool of possible people of interest to about 20. Now, this pool, kind of like a tidal basin, it rises and it falls, sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, as to who has the current best level of interest at that time.
Even though the bureau is taking a hard look at Dr. Hatfill, they are looking at a number of other people, too. It just so happens that the media has picked up on his name. He is the face that we see, but there are at least 19 other faces that haven't been shown so far.
ZAHN: Well, what do you make of some of Dr. Hatfill's allegations, among them, that when the FBI did a search of his apartment, they seized a hard drive of his computer...
VAN ZANDT: Yes. ZAHN: ... and in turn, allegedly shared some of the information off that computer hard drive with ABC News?
VAN ZANDT: Well, that's an interesting quantum leap, Paula.
You know, I'm not here as an apologist for the FBI. I'm just trying to give a perspective. And part of that perspective is that, you know, anyone who has written a book knows that if you have a manuscript, you may share it with other people, you may share it with a publicist, you may share it with an attorney, a book publishing company.
Dr. Hatfill himself yesterday indicated that he has maids coming in and out of his apartment at different times. The postal inspectors are involved. The U.S. Attorney's Office is involved. If, in fact, this was provided by anyone connected with the government, shame on them, a criminal investigation should be conducted, and something should be done.
But if this is just smoke and mirrors, if it came from someone else, you know, hopefully ABC might step forward and tell us. But you know, I can't see the FBI, again from my 25 years, pulling a hard copy off and saying, hey, let's give this to ABC arbitrarily. For what reason, to put pressure on him? The investigation itself does that. They don't need to provide this to anybody in the media.
ZAHN: Dr. Hatfill also said being squeezed by the treatment of -- the FBI's treatment of his girlfriend -- let's listen to that charge.
VAN ZANDT: Yes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. STEVEN HATFILL, FORMER ARMY SCIENTIST: One day after my attorneys had left a message on the lead FBI investigator's voice mail confirming my continued readiness to answer questions and otherwise cooperate, my girlfriend's home was also searched. She was manhandled by the FBI upon their entry, not immediately shown the search warrant, her apartment was wrecked, while FBI agents screamed at her that I had killed five people, and that her life would never be the same again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAHN: All right, I know, Clint, you don't want to be in the position where you have to defend the FBI.
VAN ZANDT: Yes.
ZAHN: But how common would it be for FBI agents who are working on a case to accuse a girlfriend's boyfriend of killing five people from anthrax during a search of an apartment?
VAN ZANDT: I cannot, cannot imagine in my furthest imagination that agents would do that. Now, I can tell you, Paula, that I have served search warrants. And you go to the apartment, you knock on the door, FBI, we've got a federal search warrant. If the person stands in the door and says, I'm sorry, you can't come in, not only does an FBI agent have the authority, he or she has the responsibility. And if a person stood in front of me, Paula, they would have to move. And if I had to move them, push them out of the way kindly, I would do that. But to stand there and yell and scream.
You know, if she said why are you here? I might say that we are conducting an investigation concerning the sending of letters. Whoever did this is responsible for the death of five people. But to directly accuse Dr. Hatfill, I don't see that taking place. No. 1, I wasn't there; No. 2, Dr. Hatfill wasn't there. So I think those agents will have to speak for themselves some time.
ZAHN: Clint, you've got 10 seconds left. How does this look to you?
VAN ZANDT: Well, it looks like someone who has made statements on his resume that have turned out to be untrue, something like Richard Jewel, who has brought attention on himself now has investigative attention focused on him. He is one of a number of people. Hopefully, we're going to find out who, and let the FBI do their job and find this person.
ZAHN: All right, Clint Van Zandt, it's always good to have your perspective on the air. Appreciate your time this morning.
VAN ZANDT: Thanks, Paula.
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