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CNN Sunday Morning

Hatfill Gets Ready to Speak Out on Anthrax Attacks

Aired August 11, 2002 - 11:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Sources have described former Army researcher Steven Hatfill as a person of interest in last falls deadly Anthrax attacks and he's getting ready to speak out about the impact of the FBI's investigation on his life.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve is in Alexandria, Virginia where a news conference will get under way just a couple of hours from now.

So, Jeanne, if his comments are anything like they were in "The Washington Post," he's a very upset guy.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right. Dr. Steven Hatfill, the former U.S. Army scientist and bioweapons expert, arrived here at his lawyers' offices in Alexandria, Virginia about one half hour ago and answered one key question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Are you innocent?

STEVEN HATFILL, FORMER U.S. ARMY SCIENTIST AND BIOWEAPONS EXPERT: Of course.

QUESTION: Is your client innocent?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Hatfill will be making a statement in about two hours time in which he is expected to again proclaim his innocence and criticize officials for their handling of this case.

Government officials have said that Hatfill is one of roughly 20 people that they are looking at in connection with the Anthrax attack last October that left five people dead.

He would appear to fit the profile developed by the FBI of a lone individual living in the United States who has experience working in a laboratory and the sophistication to produce a deadly agent.

But he has not been arrested, he has not been charged, he is not being called a suspect.

There have been two searches of his apartment. The first was consensual. The second earlier this month took place with a criminal search warrant. As to the evidence found, sources tell CNN, "It is just circumstantial but a lot of it - nothing we can go to court with."

Associates say Hatfill is outraged at what has been said about him and is anxious to respond.

In that front page article in "The Washington Post," which you mentioned, Kris, Hatfill had this to say, "I went from being someone with pride in my work, pride in my profession to being made into the biggest criminal of the 21st century for something I never touched. What I've been trying to contribute, my work is finished. My life is destroyed."

We expect to hear more along those lines when Hatfill makes his statement I about two hours. Back to you, Kris.

OSBORN: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

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