The New York Times is reporting that biodefense researcher Dr. Steven Hatfill will receive a 4.6 million dollar settlement from the United States government for deliberately destroying his reputation in the prolonged and ultimately fruitless investigation of him as a key suspect in the “Anthrax letters” case that killed and seriously harmed several people in 2001. According to Hatfill’s attorneys, the FBI leaked information to the press about Hatfill being a “person of interest” in the case, and even after it was clear he wasn’t the culprit, they failed to clear his name.

Mark Grannis, a lawyer for Dr. Hatfill, said his client was pleased with the settlement.

“This case has been about how the press behaves and how the government behaves,” Mr. Grannis said. “The good news is that we still live in a country where a guy who’s been horribly abused can go to a judge and say ‘I need your help,’ and maybe it takes a while, but he gets justice.”

I’m reminded of Richard Jewell, the man whose name was leaked by the FBI as the prime suspect in the 1996 bombing at the Olympics in Atlanta. His experience was very similar, but, while he filed several lawsuits against various media outlets, he never sought civil restitution from the government. It’s a shame that anyone should have to seek this kind of justice, but encouraging that such justice can sometimes be obtained.