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American Morning

Anthrax Probe

Aired June 10, 2003 - 07:07   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI hopes to find some answers in the anthrax matter at the bottom of a Maryland pond. The agency started draining the one-acre pond in Frederick yesterday. Investigators think it might yield clues that would lead to the person who sent the deadly spores through the mail in the fall of 2001.
Former Army researcher Steven Hatfill has been described by the government as a -- quote -- "person of interest in this case."

A bit earlier today, I talked with Hatfill's friend and spokesman, Pat Clawson, for his reaction to the draining of that pond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAT CLAWSON, STEVEN HATFILL'S FRIEND, SPOKESMAN: Let them drain. We don't care. It doesn't have anything to do with Steve Hatfill, because Steve Hatfill had nothing at all to do with the anthrax attacks. So, if draining this pond helps further establish proof of his innocence, we're quite happy to see it.

HEMMER: Let me parse some words here. In a statement to CNN, you said -- I'm quoting right now: "They are not going to find anything, because Steve is not involved." How would you know that they're not going to find anything?

CLAWSON: Well, Steve Hatfill has not been involved in the anthrax attacks, period. Therefore, there is no evidence tying him into the attacks, because he had no involvement, Bill.

HEMMER: Yes, but in this statement I was referring to, the evidence in the pond itself, how would you know there's nothing there?

CLAWSON: I don't have a clue what's in the pond. As far as I could know, they could find Jimmy Hoffa's body in that pond. Let them drain the pond, and let them do it live on national television. Let's see everything that they take out of the pond. There is really no concern on our side about it.

HEMMER: Yes, Pat, as you well know, there are those who are close to the investigation who say since Steven Hatfill has been considered a person of interest by the FBI, no more attacks have taken place going back to the fall of 2001. How do you respond to those who speak that way?

CLAWSON: Well, no more attacks have occurred since September 11 either with people crashing jets into World Trade Center-type buildings in this country. Just the fact that there have been no more attacks frankly doesn't mean anything to me at this point in time, because we don't know who committed those attacks. It could be anybody.

HEMMER: You have said also that his life right now is under constant 24-hour-a-day surveillance. How is his life day-to-day now?

CLAWSON: Well, it's not real good, to be honest with you. He sits on the sofa at his house watching CNN and chomping at the bit, hearing his name being mentioned repeatedly in connection with the anthrax attacks. He can't find work. Every time he leaves the house he's followed by an entourage of FBI agents. Sometimes they swear at him. Sometimes they flip him the finger.

Just a few days ago in Georgetown, they actually ran over his foot when he was trying to take pictures of them and left him sprawled out in the middle of Wisconsin Avenue and didn't even come to his aid after they had run him over. It's a tough life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Pat Clawson again a bit earlier today.

The draining does continue, expected to take about three to four weeks in that pond in Frederick, Maryland.

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 June 10, 2003 - 07:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI hopes to find some answers in the anthrax matter at the bottom of a Maryland pond. The agency started draining the one-acre pond in Frederick yesterday. Investigators think it might yield clues that would lead to the person who sent the deadly spores through the mail in the fall of 2001.
Former Army researcher Steven Hatfill has been described by the government as a -- quote -- "person of interest in this case."

A bit earlier today, I talked with Hatfill's friend and spokesman, Pat Clawson, for his reaction to the draining of that pond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAT CLAWSON, STEVEN HATFILL'S FRIEND, SPOKESMAN: Let them drain. We don't care. It doesn't have anything to do with Steve Hatfill, because Steve Hatfill had nothing at all to do with the anthrax attacks. So, if draining this pond helps further establish proof of his innocence, we're quite happy to see it.

HEMMER: Let me parse some words here. In a statement to CNN, you said -- I'm quoting right now: "They are not going to find anything, because Steve is not involved." How would you know that they're not going to find anything?

CLAWSON: Well, Steve Hatfill has not been involved in the anthrax attacks, period. Therefore, there is no evidence tying him into the attacks, because he had no involvement, Bill.

HEMMER: Yes, but in this statement I was referring to, the evidence in the pond itself, how would you know there's nothing there?

CLAWSON: I don't have a clue what's in the pond. As far as I could know, they could find Jimmy Hoffa's body in that pond. Let them drain the pond, and let them do it live on national television. Let's see everything that they take out of the pond. There is really no concern on our side about it.

HEMMER: Yes, Pat, as you well know, there are those who are close to the investigation who say since Steven Hatfill has been considered a person of interest by the FBI, no more attacks have taken place going back to the fall of 2001. How do you respond to those who speak that way?

CLAWSON: Well, no more attacks have occurred since September 11 either with people crashing jets into World Trade Center-type buildings in this country. Just the fact that there have been no more attacks frankly doesn't mean anything to me at this point in time, because we don't know who committed those attacks. It could be anybody.

HEMMER: You have said also that his life right now is under constant 24-hour-a-day surveillance. How is his life day-to-day now?

CLAWSON: Well, it's not real good, to be honest with you. He sits on the sofa at his house watching CNN and chomping at the bit, hearing his name being mentioned repeatedly in connection with the anthrax attacks. He can't find work. Every time he leaves the house he's followed by an entourage of FBI agents. Sometimes they swear at him. Sometimes they flip him the finger.

Just a few days ago in Georgetown, they actually ran over his foot when he was trying to take pictures of them and left him sprawled out in the middle of Wisconsin Avenue and didn't even come to his aid after they had run him over. It's a tough life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Pat Clawson again a bit earlier today.

The draining does continue, expected to take about three to four weeks in that pond in Frederick, Maryland.

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