The 2001 anthrax attacks, also known as Amerithrax, occurred in the United States over the course of several weeks beginning on September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices and to Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy, killing five people and infecting 17 others. Capitol Police Officers and staffers working for Senator Russ Feingold were exposed as well. According to the FBI, the ensuing investigation became "one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement".
Laboratory technician holding an anthrax-laced letter sent to Senator Patrick Leahy
The Tom Brokaw (NBC) note
The second anthrax note
Envelope addressed to Senator Thomas Daschle, postmarked October 9, 2001
Thomas Andrew Daschle is an American politician and lobbyist who represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1987 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he led the Senate Democratic Caucus during the final ten years of his tenure, during which time he served as Senate Minority Leader and Majority Leader.
Official portrait, 2003
Official Senate portrait by Aaron Shikler
Daschle in 2014
Daschle speaks during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.