A former US army scientist investigated by the FBI over last year's deadly anthrax mailings said he had nothing to do with the attacks and condemned the government and media for unfairly focusing on him.
Mr Steven Hatfill, a medical doctor and germ warfare expert, held a news conference with his lawyer to respond to media reports and government leaks he called character assassination that ruined his reputation.
"I have had nothing to do in any way, shape or form with the mailing of these anthrax letters and it is extremely wrong for anyone to contend or suggest that I have," Mr Hatfill said.
"I have never worked with anthrax, I know nothing about this matter," he said.
Mr Hatfill said he was appalled at last year's "biological terrorism," when a spate of anthrax-laced letters were sent in the weeks following the September 11th attacks. Five people died of the deadly bacteria and 13 others became sick.
"But I am just as appalled that my experience, knowledge, dedication and service relative to defending the United States against biological warfare has been turned against me in connection with the search for the anthrax killer," he said.
FBI investigators have twice searched Mr Hatfill's house, and both times the searches were reported in the media.