FBI botched terror case, officials reveal

FBI botched terror case, officials reveal: "FBI botched terror case, officials reveal
Eric Lichtblau, New York Times
December 4, 2005

WASHINGTON - Officials at the FBI mishandled a Florida terrorism investigation, falsified documents in the case in an effort to cover repeated missteps and retaliated against an agent who first complained about the problems, Justice Department investigators have concluded.

In one instance, someone altered dates on three FBI forms to conceal an apparent violation of federal wiretap law, according to a draft report of an investigation by the Justice Department inspector general's office obtained by the New York Times. But investigators were unable to determine who altered the documents.

The agent who first alerted the FBI to problems in the case, veteran undercover operative Mike German, was 'retaliated against' by his boss, who was angered by German's complaints and pulled him from the prestigious assignment of training new undercover agents at FBI schools, the draft report concluded.

German's case first became public last year, as he emerged as the latest in a string of whistleblowers at the FBI who said they had been punished and effectively silenced for voicing concerns about the handling of terrorism investigations and other matters since Sept. 11, 2001.

The inspector general's draft report, dated Nov. 15 and awaiting final review, validated most of German's central accusations. But the former agent, who left the bureau last year after he said his career had been derailed by the Florida episode, said he felt more disappointment than vindication.

'More than anything else, I'm saddened by all this,' German said in an interview. 'I still love the FBI, and I know that there are good, honest, hard-working agents out there trying to do the right thing.'

FBI Director Robert Mueller has emphasized repeatedly that agents are encouraged to come forward with reports of wrongdoing and that he will not tolerate retaliation against whistleblowers.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who has been a frequent critic of the FBI, said of German: 'Unfortunately, this is just another case in a long line of FBI whistleblowers who have had their careers derailed because the FBI couldn't tolerate criticism.'

Michael Kortan, an FBI spokesman, said the bureau had not been briefed on the findings. But he said that when the FBI received the report, 'if either misconduct or other wrongdoing is found, we will take appropriate action.'

German's case dates to 2002, when the FBI's Tampa division opened a terrorism investigation into a lead that laundered money, possibly connected to a drug outfit, might be used to finance terrorists overseas. The FBI was considering initiating an undercover operation to follow the lead, and German, who had extensive experience infiltrating militias, skinheads and other groups, was asked to take part.

But in the coming months, German would alert FBI officials that the Orlando agent handling the case had 'so seriously mishandled' the investigation that a prime opportunity to expose a terrorist financing plot had been wasted. He said agents had not adequately pursued leads, had failed to document important meetings with informants and had tolerated violations of rules and federal law on the handling of wiretaps.
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