--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Later, I went down to the Washington…" description: "\"Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered. After reviewing the polygraph charts in private, the polygr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/steven-hatfill-20930_anthrax_later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-fiel_581908.png" --- # Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an… ![“Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered. After reviewing the polygraph charts in private, the polygraph examiner told me that I had passed and that he believed I had nothing to do with the anthrax letters.” quote by Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/steven-hatfill-20930_anthrax_later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-fiel_581908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/steven-hatfill-20930_anthrax_later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-fiel_581908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/steven-hatfill-20930_anthrax_later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-fiel_581908.png) > “Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered. After reviewing the polygraph charts in private, the polygraph examiner told me that I had passed and that he believed I had nothing to do with the anthrax letters.” [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recounts undergoing a polygraph that cleared him of involvement in the anthrax attacks, emphasizing official exoneration. **In simple terms:** He was cleared by a polygraph. Key Takeaway Trust official findings. Themes credibility justice investigation Mood skeptical defensive Type testimonial political When to use this quote - legal defense - media scrutiny - public trust - government transparency Key Concepts forensic verification political pressure Questions to Reflect On - How reliable are polygraphs in high‑stakes investigations? - What other evidence should be considered? A Different Perspective Polygraph reliability is contested and may not guarantee innocence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anthrax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthrax/) [Believed Anthrax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-anthrax-4524030/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Onsite Polygraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onsite-polygraph-3963712/) [Polygraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygraph/) [Polygraph Administered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygraph-administered-3963713/) [Polygraph Examiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygraph-examiner-4524027/) ## Related quotes > [Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-field-office-and-an-onsite/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [After reviewing the polygraph charts in private, the polygraph examiner told me that I had passed and that he believed I had nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/after-reviewing-the-polygraph-charts-in-private-the-polygraph/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I want to look my fellow Americans directly in the eye and declare to them, 'I am not the anthrax killer.' I know nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-want-to-look-my-fellow-americans-directly-in-the-eye-and-declare-to/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [As a scientist in the field of biological warfare defense, I have never had any reservations whatsoever about helping the anthrax investigation in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/as-a-scientist-in-the-field-of-biological-warfare-defense-i-have/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I have had nothing to do in any way, shape or form with the mailing of these anthrax letters, and it is extremely wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-have-had-nothing-to-do-in-any-way-shape-or-form-with-the-mailing-of/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [It's true that my research expertise is in biology: for example, the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus, and monkey pox, and not bacteriology as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/it-s-true-that-my-research-expertise-is-in-biology-for-example-the/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [Anthrax is a deadly inhalational disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/anthrax-is-a-deadly-inhalational-disease/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [But I am just as appalled that my experience, knowledge, dedication and service relative to defending the United States against biological warfare has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/but-i-am-just-as-appalled-that-my-experience-knowledge-dedication-and/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [So I was surprised at the notion that I might have brought anthrax to my home, and would have been even amused if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/so-i-was-surprised-at-the-notion-that-i-might-have-brought-anthrax-to/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [After eight months of one of the most intensive public and private investigations in American history, no one - no one - has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/after-eight-months-of-one-of-the-most-intensive-public-and-private/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I acknowledge the right of the authorities and the press to satisfy themselves as to whether I am the anthrax mailer. This does not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-acknowledge-the-right-of-the-authorities-and-the-press-to-satisfy/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [“The polygrapher is not one’s friend even if he or she tries to convince one he or she is on one’s side. Outright deception!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/the-polygrapher-is-not-one-s-friend-even-if-he-or-she-tries-to/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [The U.S. is, so far as I know, the only nation which places such extensive reliance on the polygraph. It has gotten us into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldrich-ames/the-u-s-is-so-far-as-i-know-the-only-nation-which-places-such/) [Aldrich Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldrich-ames/) > [“There has never been a Supreme Court ruling on the admissibility of polygraph evidence in federal court.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/there-has-never-been-a-supreme-court-ruling-on-the-admissibility-of/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [My own view is that if you filled every member of the parliamentary Labour party with a truth drug and lashed them to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dobson/my-own-view-is-that-if-you-filled-every-member-of-the-parliamentary/) [Frank Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dobson/) ## More by Steven Hatfill > [The next day I was put on paid leave from my new job at Louisiana State University. This is very painful to me, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/the-next-day-i-was-put-on-paid-leave-from-my-new-job-at-louisiana/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [Whether we're at war or have been attacked, the foundation of society is that you hold to the laws in place. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/whether-we-re-at-war-or-have-been-attacked-the-foundation-of-society/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I acknowledge the right of the authorities and the press to satisfy themselves as to whether I am the anthrax mailer. This does not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-acknowledge-the-right-of-the-authorities-and-the-press-to-satisfy/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [All Americans value the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, and I believe this is essential for our continued way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/all-americans-value-the-freedom-of-speech-and-the-freedom-of-the/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I especially object to having my character assassinated by reference to events from my past which bear absolutely no relationship to the question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-especially-object-to-having-my-character-assassinated-by-reference/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/later-i-went-down-to-the-washington-field-office-and-an-onsite/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [After reviewing the polygraph charts in private, the polygraph examiner told me that I had passed and that he believed I had nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/after-reviewing-the-polygraph-charts-in-private-the-polygraph/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [And indeed, last week, the FBI executed a search warrant on my residence. This happened one day after my attorneys had left a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/and-indeed-last-week-the-fbi-executed-a-search-warrant-on-my/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [Every human being has to feel a part of a tribe. It's programmed into us. And you have to feel that you're contributing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/every-human-being-has-to-feel-a-part-of-a-tribe-it-s-programmed-into/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I'm a medical doctor and a biomedical scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-m-a-medical-doctor-and-a-biomedical-scientist/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [All Americans value the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, and I believe this is essential for our continued way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/all-americans-value-the-freedom-of-speech-and-the-freedom-of-the-2/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [In fact, I had previously helped train one of the FBI agents who searched my apartment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/in-fact-i-had-previously-helped-train-one-of-the-fbi-agents-who/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [After eight months of one of the most intensive public and private investigations in American history, no one - no one - has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/after-eight-months-of-one-of-the-most-intensive-public-and-private/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [In due course, following an additional debriefing, the FBI confirmed to me and to my former counsel, Tom Carter, that I was not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/in-due-course-following-an-additional-debriefing-the-fbi-confirmed-to/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [I am a loyal American, and I love my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-am-a-loyal-american-and-i-love-my-country/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) [Explore all 30 Steven Hatfill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) ## More Anthrax quotes > [To mess around with Ebola is an easy way to die. Better to work with something safer, such as anthrax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-preston/to-mess-around-with-ebola-is-an-easy-way-to-die-better-to-work-with/) [Richard Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-preston/) > [Liberals compare Jerry Falwell to the Taliban, but then are furious with George Bush for not being Jesus Christ. Evidently, what a president is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/liberals-compare-jerry-falwell-to-the-taliban-but-then-are-furious/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [If you take the biological weapons in the United States we still will have perhaps a single individual who was able to make anthrax,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/if-you-take-the-biological-weapons-in-the-united-states-we-still-will/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [When World War II came along, which was when I was a teenager, we all expected we would have anthrax bombs and this kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/when-world-war-ii-came-along-which-was-when-i-was-a-teenager-we-all/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [The biological agents we believe Iraq can produce include anthrax, botulinum, toxin, aflatoxin and ricin. All eventually result in excruciatingly painful death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-biological-agents-we-believe-iraq-can-produce-include-anthrax/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Well germ warfare of course exists. There have been on a small scale... There have been, of course, a few people who got killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/well-germ-warfare-of-course-exists-there-have-been-on-a-small-scale/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [It's not anthrax or terrorism or AIDS that is the worst ill in our world: The most horrible disease in the world is hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/it-s-not-anthrax-or-terrorism-or-aids-that-is-the-worst-ill-in-our/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I acknowledge the right of the authorities and the press to satisfy themselves as to whether I am the anthrax mailer. This does not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/i-acknowledge-the-right-of-the-authorities-and-the-press-to-satisfy/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [Metal is easily my favorite thing - Exodus and Anthrax and Megadeth - so it just kind of organically came through in the standup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/metal-is-easily-my-favorite-thing-exodus-and-anthrax-and-megadeth-so/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [“I thought we stopped using grunts as guinea pigs decades ago. Even the Nazis didn't run medical experiments on their own troops in combat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-matsumoto/i-thought-we-stopped-using-grunts-as-guinea-pigs-decades-ago-even-the/) [Gary Matsumoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-matsumoto/) > [“What's the point of truth or beauty or knowledge when the anthrax bombs are popping all around you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-s-the-point-of-truth-or-beauty-or-knowledge-when-the-anthrax/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [You never get quite down to the bottom of the barrel, but we are much higher than that at the present time. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/you-never-get-quite-down-to-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-but-we-are-much/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom. The Iraqi regime has plotted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/iran-aggressively-pursues-these-weapons-and-exports-terror-while-an/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [After eight months of one of the most intensive public and private investigations in American history, no one - no one - has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/after-eight-months-of-one-of-the-most-intensive-public-and-private/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [“Plasma blasts scald asphalt; napalm blasts parch macadam (glass shards act as haphazard abradants that sandblast all landwrack)...A mad labman at a lab crafts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-b-k/plasma-blasts-scald-asphalt-napalm-blasts-parch-macadam-glass-shards/) [Christian Bök](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-b-k/) [Browse all 47 Anthrax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthrax/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Later, I went down to the Washington field office and an onsite polygraph was administered. 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