JURIST - Paper Chase: US seeks dismissal of anthrax lawsuit

The US government asked a federal judge Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Dr. Stephen Hatfill, a bioterroism expert who claims the government ruined his reputation by linking him to the 2001 anthrax attacks. Read Hatfill's complaint here [PDF]. Hatfill was labeled a "person of interest" by Attorney General John Ashcroft during the anthrax scare over two years ago (read a September 2002 statement by the DOJ here). Hatfill claims that this was an attempt by the government to draw attention away from its inability to find those responsible for sending the anthrax-laced letters. The Attorney General's office argues that the identification of Hatfill was to downplay Hatfill's involvement, by making it clear that he was not a suspect. US District Judge Reggie B. Walton has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss, but did agree to set aside trial preparations until October. Read more from the Baltimore Sun.