Cedar Rapids Weather
Woman Says Federal Grand Jury Probing UI Lab Break-inBy Diane Heldt
Authorities converge on Seashore Hall and Spence Laboratories on the campus of the University of Iowa, after extensive vandalism, including the dumping of chemicals and the release of lab animals, was discovered Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, in Iowa City, Iowa. Most of the damage was in Spence Labs and in the east wing of Seashore Hall, both of which are home to the psychology department. Because of the extent of damage and the dumping of chemicals, the building and lab were evacuated. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Brian Ray) By
Becky Ogann
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| (Carrie Feldman) |
But Feldman believes the grand jury in this case is looking into the November 2004 break-in at UI’s Seashore Hall and Spence Laboratories.
The FBI continues to investigate that incident, which UI officials said caused about $450,000 in damage to lab equipment and the theft of more than 400 rodents used in research by the psychology department. Activists stating affiliation with the Animal Liberation Front claimed credit for the incident.
Feldman, in an e-mail to The Gazette, said she was not told why she was subpoenaed by the grand jury or what the panel is investigating. But questions from jury members and the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford R. Cronk, led her to believe the jury is investigating the UI incident, she said.
Feldman said she was a 15-year-old high school sophomore in Minneapolis at the time of the UI break-in, and her school attendance records have been sought by federal officials.
“The assertion by the prosecutor that I may be a target of this investigation is ridiculous,” she wrote in the e-mail. “I believe that I am being targeted because of my political activity and beliefs, not my involvement in any crime.”
Feldman said her appearance before the grand jury in Davenport was her first time in Iowa, other than driving through with her family as a child. University of Iowa police said the lab break-in is still an active investigation and referred comments to the FBI. Carrie Sawicki, a spokeswoman with the FBI’s Omaha, Neb., office, said officials cannot comment on the UI incident because it is an ongoing investigation.
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