Justice Department takes on itself in probe of 2001 anthrax attacks

01/27/12: The Washington Post reports that since it began a decade ago, the federal government’s massive investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks has been plagued by missteps and complications. Investigators initially focused on the wrong man, then had to pay him a nearly $6 million settlement. In 2008, they accused another man, Bruce E. Ivins, who killed himself before he could go to trial. Now, in the latest twist, the government has argued Ivins was likely not the anthrax killer.

11/30/11: The Washington Post reports that the US government has agreed to pay $2.5 million to the family of a tabloid photo editor who died in the 2001 anthrax attacks, resolving a long-running lawsuit in which family members had accused the government of negligence. In documents filed Monday in US District Court in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Justice Department agreed to the settlement but did not admit liability in the death of Robert Stevens. Stevens, an employee of American Media, publisher of the National Enquirer and other tabloids, was exposed to the anthrax spores and died October 5, 2001.

10/10/11: The Washington Times reports that despite being mired in the worst financial crisis in its history, the US Postal Service has no plans to cut back on any of the bioterrorism preparedness measures that began in the wake of anthrax attacks through the US mail system 10 years ago this month. The attacks, which killed five people, including two Washington, DC postal workers; sickened 17 others and for weeks made many Americans fearful of opening the mail.

Thread: Anthrax