Obstruction in terror investigations?

An active agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation has filed a complaint with a public-interest law firm alleging that Justice Department and FBI supervisory personnel have either mishandled or interfered with anti-terrorism investigations in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

According to officials with Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that investigates alleged government corruption, the special agent – who asked not to be identified – claims he was retaliated against when he continued to push for and pursue certain terrorist investigations over the objections of his FBI and Justice Department supervisors.

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The agent alleges that had certain investigations been allowed to run their courses, wanted Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network may have been prevented from carrying out the Sept. 11 attacks that have left nearly 5,000 people dead.

"Judicial Watch is requesting a full scale, independent investigation into its client's concerns and seeks to hold accountable those responsible for preventing the full investigation of terrorist activity here in the United States and abroad," said a statement released by the organization yesterday.

The agent filed his complaint last week with the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility, said a statement issued by Judicial Watch.

A source close to the investigation, who asked not to be identified, told WND that the investigations the agent referenced were ongoing, having begun before the Sept. 11 attacks.

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The agent claimed "the FBI could have stopped bin Laden years ago," according to the legal group's statement.

A spokesman for the Justice Department told WorldNetDaily he had no information regarding the complaint. Also, a spokesman for the FBI's office of public affairs said he was unaware of the allegations. Saying his office doesn't discuss ongoing investigations, a staff member in the Office of Inspector General refused to comment.

The Office of Professional Responsibility is responsible for investigating allegations that Department of Justice attorneys have engaged in misconduct in connection with their duties to investigate, represent the government in litigation or provide legal advice. Also, the agency has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of misconduct by law-enforcement personnel "when such allegations are related to allegations of attorney misconduct within the jurisdiction of OPR." The agency reports directly to the attorney general.

Judicial Watch is representing the agent along with attorney David Schippers, who gained notoriety as the lawyer who lead the impeachment against President Clinton in the House of Representatives. A spokeswoman in his Colorado office said he was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Currently, Schippers is also representing former NBC affiliate television news reporter Jayna Davis, who says she has evidence linking Middle Eastern terrorists to the Oklahoma City bombing.

Tom Fitton, executive director of Judicial Watch, said he believed the gravity of the complaint ought to bring about a quick response by the Justice Department.

"Presumably the attorney general would want to investigate this immediately," he said.

Fitton declined to identify which terror investigations had been tampered with and whether or not supervisory personnel identified by the special agent were holdovers from the Clinton administration.