Congressional oversight
In late 2002 Senators Daschle and Leahy called in the FBI to explain the Washington Post story "FBI's Theory On Anthrax Is Doubted", Washington Post, October 28, 2002. This was later on reported in "Anthrax Powder — State of the Art?"<23> . The latter article described how Dwight Adams, chief FBI scientist, told Senators Daschle and Leahy that there were no special additives in the senate anthrax and that the silica was "naturally occurring". However, Adams admitted that there was scientific information concerning the nature of the anthrax organism that was deemed by his superiors too sensitive to share with Senators Daschle and Leahy:
Connolly: Earlier you testified that regarding the scientific aspect of the investigation there was information that was simply in your view too sensitive to share to the public about the particular characteristics of the organism sent in the mail. Is that correct?
Adams: In so many words, yes, sir.
Connolly: I don't want to mischaracterize it. If you think I've mischaracterized it in any way then, please, put your own words on it.
Adams: No, that's fine.
Connolly: Did you feel like you had the same restrictions in informing the senate, congress, or their staff in terms of what it is you would reveal to them about the particular characteristics of the organism that was sent?
Adams: As I've already stated there was specific information that I did not feel appropriate to share with either the media or to the Hill because it was too sensitive of the information to do so.<24>
On October 23, 2006 Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa sent a six page letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting a briefing on the anthrax investigation. By December, 2006, a total of 33 members of Congress have demanded the Attorney General to update them on the investigation. <25>
The FBI's Assistant Director for Congressional Affairs said, "After sensitive information about the investigation citing congressional sources was reported in the media, the Department of Justice and the FBI agreed that no additional briefings to Congress would be provided." <26>--more--
WikipediaIt is still a mystery why this case hasn't been solved. Many believe, as do I, that the revelation of the culprit would prove too embarassing for the Bush Administration. This was weapons-grade anthrax, not something you'd find on the streets. That should narrow down the possibilities of "who" and "where." "How" and "when" are already known. The "why" is a little fuzzy, but one could make informed inferences from the players involved.