STATEMENT OF FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CASSANDRA M. CHANDLER
WASHINGTON,
D.C. –– "The CBS News report broadcast on February 11, 2004,
contained numerous inaccuracies with respect to both the investigation into the
death of Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Luna and an ongoing internal
inquiry in the Baltimore FBI office.
"The
two-month investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies into Mr.
Luna's death has been intensive, thorough, and far reaching. In this case, as
in virtually every case of suspicious or non-accidental death, an extensive victimology
is conducted to determine how and why someone died. That process attempts to look
at every aspect of a victim's life –– including the death scene ––
for insights into the circumstances leading to the death. Many investigative avenues
have been and are being explored, including more than 600 leads. As an example,
numerous government employees, including FBI Agents and Assistant United States
Attorneys who worked with and had contact with Mr. Luna, have been interviewed
in an effort to determine if any could provide information which might be helpful
to the investigation. The focus never has been on any one person in the government
and none was ever considered a suspect. In fact, there are no suspects at this
time.
"As
to the internal inquiry in the Baltimore office, any time an FBI employee makes
a serious allegation of wrongdoing against a manager or fellow employee, the matter
is investigated by independent investigators. That process is under way at this
time and no determination of wrongdoing or conclusion has been reached. It has
been determined, however, that the conduct under review was process oriented.
At no time was acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Smith Love the focus of
the internal inquiry.
"Inaccurate
news stories, often based on incomplete, outdated, or simply wrong information,
are hurtful to victim family members and others affected by the death and do not
advance the education of the public. The FBI is confident that when this case
is solved the public will have the benefit of accurate information based on an
exhaustive, thorough, and complete investigation."
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