20 accused of fraudulently trying to get hazardous materials licenses

From Terry Frieden
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Twenty people have been charged with fraudulently attempting to obtain commercial licenses to transport hazardous material during the course of the terrorism investigation, according to a Senior Justice Department official.

The official acknowledged the charges have been lodged during the past two weeks but emphasized he in no way was connecting any of those charges to the ongoing terrorism investigation.

Despite the denial, the comment came only hours after Attorney General John Ashcroft told a Senate Committee: "I can report to you that our investigation has uncovered several individuals including individuals who may have links to the hijackers, who fraudulently obtained, or attempted to obtain hazardous material transportation licenses."

The Justice Department official said he did not know whether the 20 people charged had all been arrested, and refused to say where the charges were filed. He would not identify any of those charged, although the official said he believes many of the charges are reflected in publicly available documents.