FBI document reveals more about UI break-in

IOWA CITY - An e-mail to the media taking credit for the November 2004 University of Iowa lab break-in was traced back to two UI computers, according to FBI documents.

Federal authorities also believe animal-rights activists involved with the break-in and vandalism at Spence Laboratories and Seashore Hall purchased blue coveralls, sledgehammers and a wrecking bar from an unnamed Cedar Rapids store that were used in the incident.

Those are among the details contained in a 12-page affidavit filed this month in U.S. District Court in Davenport. The affidavit, filed April 8, was in support of a motion to suppress evidence seized from the computer of Scott DeMuth, 22, a Minnesota graduate student indicted in connection with the UI case.

At a hearing Monday at the federal courthouse, DeMuth's trial was postponed to June.

The 12-page affidavit, signed by officer Melissa Henderson of the FBI office in Cedar Rapids, says the e-mail to the media taking credit for the UI break-in, which caused in excess of $450,000 in damage, was traced back to a Yahoo account used at two computer IP addresses, one in the UI law library and one in the UI main library.

The document also details entries in DeMuth's journal, in which federal officials say he wrote about whether he should have “gone under” with some of his friends, and wrote, in August 1995, “it's almost been a year since Iowa.”

To read the affidavit, visit greenisthenewred.com.

“During the course of this investigation it has been found there are many connections between the attack on the University of Iowa and direct connections with the Minneapolis, Minnesota area,” FBI officials say in the affidavit.

Several subjects of interest from animal rights groups traveled from the Minneapolis area, rented vehicles and flew out of Minnesota around the time frame of the UI break-in, the document states.

Supporters of DeMuth and of Minnesota activist Carrie Feldman, who was held for several months for refusing to testify before a grand jury, say the evidence is tenuous, and the charges are unwarranted.

“It's been clear from the start that the charges are politically motivated,” Lisa Williams said in an e-mailed statement from the Scott and Carrie Support Committee.

Activists claiming affiliation with the Animal Liberation Front said they were responsible for the UI incident, which damaged equipment and released more than 400 rodents used in psychology experiments.