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news stories, often based on incomplete, outdated,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."
