Behind the Bastards How The FBI Botched the 2001 Anthrax Scare (Part 2)
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Oct 7, 2025 Delve into the chaos of the 2001 anthrax attacks and the FBI's shocking missteps. A victim, Robert Stevens, faced a dire diagnosis, igniting national panic. The investigation stumbled as handwriting clues and insider information pointed to biodefense staff. Stephen Hatfield's life was turned upside down, thanks to profiling and relentless scrutiny. Despite the FBI's rush for closure, new insights decades later shifted suspicion to Bruce Ivins, but the mystery remains. The saga underscores the devastating impact of flawed investigations.
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First Victim And The Mailroom Link
- Robert Stevens, a 60-year-old photo editor at the National Enquirer, fell ill and was diagnosed with inhalation anthrax.
- He died days later and became the first of five fatalities tied to mailed anthrax letters in 2001.
Ames Strain Narrowed Suspects
- The mailed anthrax was identified as the Ames strain, a variant used in U.S. biodefense research.
- That biological fingerprint shifted suspicion toward an insider with access to research facilities.
Strain Identity Reshaped The Narrative
- Identifying the Ames strain made an Al-Qaeda origin unlikely given U.S. lab use of that strain.
- That recognition reframed the attack as likely originating from someone inside U.S. biodefense circles.
