National Research Council's Review of the Science in the FBI's Anthrax Case to Be Released February 15

The science developed by the FBI to solve the Anthrax Case, officially known as the Amerithrax Investigation, has been evaluated by the National Research Council and the report will be released on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

The National Academies (2-11-11) reports:

Review of Science in FBI's Anthrax Case to Be Released Feb. 15

A National Research Council committee reviewing the scientific approaches, methodologies, and analytical techniques used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation during its investigation of the 2001 anthrax mailings, and whether the FBI reached appropriate scientific conclusions from its use of these techniques, will release its report on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at an 11 a.m. EST press conference and public briefing in Washington, D.C. A live video webcast of the event will be available at hhtp://www.national-acadmies.org.

In 2008, the FBI asked the Research Council -- the principal operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering -- to conduct this independent review. The U.S. Department of Justice closed its investigation of the anthrax mailings in early 2010, concluding that the attacks were carried out by Bruce Ivins, a scientist at a U.S. Army infectious disease laboratory in Frederick, Md., who committed suicide in 2008. The new report is limited to an evaluation of the scientific evidence and does not assess the guilt or innocence of anyone connected to the case.

The press conference and public briefing will begin at 11 a.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, 525 E St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Those who cannot attend may watch a live video webcast and submit questions via e-mail at hhtp://www.national-academies.org.

Advance copies of the report, REVIEW OF THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES USED DURING THE FBI'S INVESTIGATION OF THE 2001 ANTHRAX LETTERS, will be available to reporters only beginning at 8 a.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 15. THE REPORT IS EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE BEFORE 11 A.M. EST TUESDAY, FEB. 15. To obtain copies of the report or to register for the briefing, reporters should contact the Office of News and Public Information; tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu. Seating is limited.