(Washington, D.C.) –U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today wrote Robert S. Mueller, Director of the FBI, expressing his concerns about the Bureau’s decision to document dump to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) an additional 500 pages of previously undisclosed investigative material from the 2001 anthrax attacks. The FBI evidently provided the new materials after the NAS shared a draft report with the FBI for its review.

The anthrax attacks evidently originated from a postal box in Holt’s Central New Jersey congressional district, killing five, and disrupting the lives and livelihoods of many of his constituents. The attacks greatly contributed to the national fear of terrorism and has affected the response of our nation to these attacks to this day. Holt has consistently raised questions about the federal investigation into the attacks.

“Despite the FBI’s original charge to the NAS to examine only the scientific data and conclusions in the case, it now appears that the FBI—which has consistently botched and bungled this case from the beginning—may be seeking to try to steer or otherwise pressure the NAS panel to reach a conclusion desired by the Bureau,” Holt wrote. “I ask that you meet with me this week to explain the FBI’s troubling conduct in this matter.”

A copy of Holt’s letter is below (a PDF can be found here ):

December 9, 2010

Robert S. Mueller, III

Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

J. Edgar Hoover Building

935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20535-0001

Dear Director Mueller,

I have long been troubled by the FBI’s investigation and final conclusions to the 2001 Anthrax attacks. This week more disturbing information has come to my attention.

As you know, in September 2008, the FBI requested that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to examine a relatively narrow range of scientific questions about the FBI’s scientific conclusions in the so-called “Amerithrax” case. Recently, the NAS shared their draft report with the FBI for review.

This week I was informed by the NAS that the FBI would be releasing an additional 500 pages of previously undisclosed investigative material from the Amerithrax investigation to the NAS.

My understanding is that this document dump, taking place after the FBI’s review of the NAS draft report, is intended to contest and challenge the independent NAS panel’s draft findings. If these new documents were relevant to the NAS’s review why were they previously undisclosed and withheld?

Despite the FBI’s original charge to the NAS to examine only the scientific data and conclusions in the case, it now appears that the FBI—which has consistently botched and bungled this case from the beginning—may be seeking to try to steer or otherwise pressure the NAS panel to reach a conclusion desired by the Bureau.

I ask that you meet with me this week to explain the FBI’s troubling conduct in this matter.

Sincerely,

RUSH HOLT

Member of Congress

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