"We anticipate being able to provide additional details in the near future," the Justice Department statement said. Officials indicated in the statement that they wanted to update victims of the attacks about the investigation before making further details public.
In Kennebunkport, Maine, where President Bush was vacationing, reporters asked a White House spokeswoman whether Bush had been briefed on the latest developments. She said she had no information and referred questions to the Justice Department.
"What I can tell you is that President Bush over the years has maintained an interest in this case and has periodically been updated by the FBI director," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
On Capitol Hill, the target of several of the anthrax-laced letters, frustrated members of Congress pressed the FBI for more information.
"The public, the victims' families, and law enforcement would like to know that the book is closed on this investigation," Rep. Rush D. Holt (D-N.J.) said in a statement.
"The FBI has not briefed me about today's news reports, so I cannot say whether that is the case," Holt said. "What we learn will not change the fact that this has been a poorly handled investigation that has lasted six years and already has resulted in a trail of embarrassment and personal tragedy."
Holt disclosed a letter he sent Friday to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III requesting an update on the probe.
"It's been frustrating that the FBI has essentially shut out Congress throughout its seven-year investigation," Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a statement. "Now seems to be the opportune time for the bureau to brief Congress about whether the case is to be closed and justice will be served.
"If it is, we must thoroughly examine the reasons why. In the meantime, we should remember that a rush to judgment can be dangerous and expensive for everyone. The last person the FBI had in its sights in this case suffered for six years and just collected a $6-million settlement," he said.
The Times' Friday report chronicled the first major breakthrough in the case, which had stymied legions of FBI and other law enforcement agents for more than six years.
The extraordinary turn of events followed the government's payment in June of a settlement valued at $5.82 million to Steven J. Hatfill, another former government scientist, who was long targeted as the FBI's chief suspect.
The Justice Department's cautious public response Friday contrasted sharply with its public finger-pointing at Hatfill early in the investigation. Then-Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft declared Hatfill a "person of interest" in the case in 2002. Hatfill accused the government of orchestrating a leak campaign to reporters that ruined his reputation.
"We understand that the FBI wants to take the time to brief the victims' families about an important development in the anthrax investigation," Thomas Connolly, Hatfill's lawyer, said Friday. "Out of respect for the victims and their families, we will withhold comment until that has occurred."
--
rick.schmitt@latimes.com
