The DOJ has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with former Army scientist Steven Hatfill, whom the government called a person of interest in the 2001 anthrax attacks.
In 2002, the FBI and then-Attorney General John Ashcroft described Hatfill, a former Army scientist, as a person of interest in the investigation into the post 9/11 anthrax attacks, which killed five people, sickened 17, and to this day remain unresolved. Hatfill sued the government for violating his privacy by leaking information to the press. In a statement Friday, his lawyers said: As an innocent man, and as our fellow citizen, Steven Hatfill deserved far better.
Could this be good news for Toni Locy? Back in March, Judge Reggie Walton, a D.C. district court judge, held Locy, 48, a former USA Today reporter, in contempt in this case for refusing to name her sources for a story she wrote about Hatfills possible role in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Walton issued a contempt order fining Locy $500 a day for seven days, $1,000 a day for the following seven days, and $5,000 a day for the seven days after that if she continued to refuse to cooperate. He also barred USA Today, or any other individual or news organization, from helping Locy now a West Virginia University journalism prof pay the fines. Last we heard, just hours before the fines were going to begin accruing, the D.C. Court of Appeals rang the bell, ordering that Locy didnt have to pay the fines while her lawyers fought Waltons contempt ruling.
According to the AP, on Friday Locy said: I hope this means that this ordeal is over and that I can get on with my life. She said: I am pleased that Dr. Hatfills lawyers are now saying they no longer need my testimony, but I dont know if my appeal is moot or if the contempt order against me will be lifted because I dont have anything at this point from the Court of Appeals or Judge Walton that says Im in the clear. 
|
