FBI Puts a Spotlight on a ‘Person of Interest’

Steven Hatfill has joined Richard Jewell [the security guard falsely implicated by authorities and the media after the Olympic bombing in Atlanta], Wen Ho Lee [the scientist investigated by the FBI on suspicion of espionage at the Los Alamos, N.M., research facility] and undoubtedly countless others in the FBI’s attempt to cover its incompetence by smearing such people, ruining their lives and careers, invading their persons and homes and stealing personal property from them (“Hatfill Wrote Novel About Bioterrorism,” Aug. 14). Hatfill supposedly is but one of 30 “persons of interest” and yet he is the only one publicly fingered.

Recently the FBI passed around a photo of him (but none of the other “persons of interest”) to Princeton, N.J., residents in an effort to connect him to the mailing of the anthrax letters. Given his exposure on TV over the last few days, I’d wager that if that photo were passed around here in Atascadero, most would say, “Yep, I saw him only a couple of days ago.” At least he hasn’t been given the treatment of the Ruby Ridge and Waco victims. Yet!

Richard A. Kinz

Atascadero