Antiwar activists subpoenas defended

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Hiawatha Bray <watha () monitortan com>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 14:02:17 
To:dave () farber net, Ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Antiwar activists subpoenas defended

http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c2229999/23493867.html

Federal officials Monday said a grand jury inquiry involving four peace
activists and Drake University is not part of an anti-terrorism
investigation.

U.S. Attorney Stephen Patrick O'Meara said late Monday that the
investigation focuses on unlawful entry onto military property at Camp Dodge
on Nov. 16, and whether plans were laid for that at a conference the day
before at Drake.

Suggestions that the investigation is related to the Patriot Act "are not
accurate," O'Meara said.

O'Meara's statement and comments from the FBI broke nearly a week of silence
from federal officials, who also slowed the investigation Monday, postponing
grand jury testimony that had been scheduled for today.

FBI spokesman Jeff Tarpinian in Omaha also denied the investigation was part
of a terror probe, and said federal officials might look into whether Polk
County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Warford identified himself inappropriately in
delivering the subpoenas.

Last week, Warford served grand jury subpoenas on the peace activists and
Drake officials.

Warford left behind at least two business cards identifying himself as a
member of an FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force - alarming those subpoenaed as
well as other peace activists.

"There is no connection in this case with his duties - as far as being part
of that task force - and this grand jury investigation," Tarpinian said.

<snip>

Hiawatha Bray
Boston Globe

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