(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that its investigation of the October, 2001, anthrax terrorist attacks revealed four (4) major areas where important facts contradict USPS representations to Congress: 1) USPS failure to implement its own written and promulgated Emergency Anthrax Instruction; 2) USPS failure to summon the FBI and preserve Brentwood as a crime scene; 3) USPS failure to address pertinent regulations and requirements for packaging/mailing infectious pathogens; and 4) USPS senior management knowledge, not later than Thursday, October 18, 2001, that: a) “the mail was leaking and we were affected,” and b) “Again, they [anthrax test areas in Brentwood] tested hot,” based on the diary/log entries of the Brentwood Facility Plant Manager Timothy Haney. The Brentwood facility was finally closed on Sunday, October 21, 2001 – more than three days later. Two Bentwood workers died from inhalation anthrax: Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., and at least three others recovered following diagnosed infection. Scores of other Brentwood workers are wrestling with health complications related to anthrax exposure. Judicial Watch represents Brentwood Exposed, a USPS workers support group organized in the aftermath of the October 2001 anthrax terrorist attacks, and many of the 2200 postal workers from the Brentwood facility.

Based on facts uncovered by Judicial Watch investigation and litigation, investigators from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, have expanded their probe into anthrax contamination at postal facilities to include misconduct by senior U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officials, as well as false and misleading statements to Congress. Ms Dena Briscoe, President of Bentwood Exposed, presented senators with Judicial Watch’s investigative findings and requested immediate action. Senator Joseph Lieberman asked GAO Comptroller General David Walker to investigate the matter.

Brentwood Exposed and Judicial Watch provided GAO investigators with numerous documents, exhibits, and reference materials during a meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2003, identifying false statements and inaccuracies by senior USPS officials to Congress.