Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced a resolution yesterday condemning the rounds of anthrax threats sent to abortion providers in October and November of this year. Noting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation declared the threats to be acts of “domestic terrorism,” the resolution urges law enforcement as well as the Bush Administration to locate all perpetrators of the anthrax threats and bring them to justice. Congresswoman Slaughter is the co-chair of the House Pro-Choice Task Force. Three other members of the Task Force have co-sponsored the resolution, including Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jim Greenwood (R-PA), and Connie Morella (R-MD).
More than 500 anthrax threat letters were sent to reproductive health care clinics providing abortions nationwide. All of the threats claimed to be from the Army of God, a clandestine anti-abortion extremist organization, which has also claimed responsibility for several anti-abortion bombings and arsons. Recently captured anti-abortion extremist, Clayton Lee Waagner has allegedly admitted to sending the threats. Waagner, formerly a fugitive on the “Most Wanted” lists of the FBI, US Marshal Service, and ATF, was apprehended last week after alluding law enforcement for more than eight months. On the run, Waagner lived lavishly, supporting himself by robbing banks. Meanwhile, the family of the self-proclaimed anti-abortion “warrior” lives in “an unpainted one-story house off a gravel road, insulation visible on the wooden walls, tape holding together a handrail up to the rickety porch,” as described by the Washington Post.
