(Washington, D.C.) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today urged the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia not to dismiss a lawsuit against U.S. Postmaster General Jack Potter and other postal officials brought by workers exposed to anthrax at a Washington, D.C., postal facility.

Judicial Watch filed a $100 million class action suit on behalf of 2,300 USPS employees who were exposed to anthrax in October 2001 while working at the Brentwood mail facility. The lawsuit alleges the postal workers’ Fifth Amendment rights were violated by Mr. Potter and other officials when they falsely told employees that the plant was safe when the officials knew it had been contaminated with the deadly anthrax pathogen. The facility remained open for four days after officials knew the plant was contaminated, according to documents Judicial Watch obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. Two Brentwood postal workers died of inhalation anthrax.

“The actions of the Postmaster General and other postal officials with regard to the anthrax contamination of the Brentwood facility were unconscionable, and these officials need to be held accountable,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “At least two innocent postal workers died and many others were injured due to these officials’ false assurances.”

[For copies of materials on the case, visit www.judicialwatch.org.]