Michael Hastings: FBI Records Lead to Positive ID

[cali]

So if the FBI wasn't investigating Hastings, what were they doing with his fingerprints on file?

The L.A. County Department of Coroner today confirmed that the burned body found in the charred Mercedes that crashed in Hollywood early Tuesday was indeed that of noted journalist Michael Hastings.

The remains of 33-year-old Michael Mahon Hastings were identified through fingerprint records "obtained from the FBI," coroner's Lt. Fred Corral told us:

<snip>

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/06/michael_hastings_identified_hollywood_crash.php

[morningfog]

1. Did Hastings have a record? previous arrest?

[pnwmom]

4. Yes, a DUI. n/t

[pnwmom]

2. He was involved in a DUI when he was 19. Of course they have his fingerprints.

One of the key questions is what the toxicology reports will show.

[cali]

5. do you have a link for that?

and does the FBI have the fingerprints of everyone who has ever been convicted or charged with DUI?

[pnwmom]

13. He wrote about it in a book.

“The writer does have a history with alcohol and drugs, however. In his first book, I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story, Hastings says that he crashed a car in a drunk-driving accident when he was 19.”

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/06/michael_hastings_crash_engine_flew_speeding_recovery.php


The FBI has been collecting fingerprints from the states since 1999.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/iafis/iafis

[snooper2]

15. They have a national database that most all LEA utilize

I'm sure a lot of local police departments aren't fully linked in, like say DeSoto MO

Sharing of information is a good thing!

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Sorry, cali

This was nothing more than a tragic accident. The FBI was not investigating Hastings. The US government did not assassinate Hastings. The reason why he died is because he was driving like a bat out of hell and we have yet to see the toxicology reports.

Of course I'm in the minority and I'm sure a majority of DUers are thinking conspiracy.

That's only because the inmates are now running the asylum here.

[zappaman]

6. I don't think you are in the minority.

Just that the CTers yell a lot louder.

[SidDithers]

8. Nooo! His car was being remotely controlled by DARPA!...

It's true. I read it right here at the DU.

Sid

[cali]

12. you know what I find despicable?

People who put words in others' mouths? I have made it crystal fucking clear in several threads that I think Hastings death was an accident and yet some little minds insist that I'm pushing some ct theory.

fuck that dishonest pile of stinking shit.

[SidDithers]

27. I wasn't fucking responding to you...

so put your "despicable" where it belongs.

Sid

[Cali_Democrat]

14. That thread was precious

Left me in stitches.

OH...BTW...it's now on the front page of DU.



Now the world can see how batshit crazy this place has become.

[cali]

9. sorry, cd, I've never fucking suggested that it was anything but a tragic accident and

YOU know that. You have an unpleasant little habit of putting words in other folks' mouths. stop it.

I posted this because the FBI denied investigating Hastings and I was curious as to why they had his fingerprints. and unlike some here, I'm not stupid enough to lap up every word out the authorities mouths as gospel truth.

At least the likes of YOU are in the minority here. that's a small blessing.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Your OP was nothing more than an attempt to feed the conspiracy theorists and you know it.

Feigning outrage at me while cursing and screaming will do nothing to change that fact.

If I'm in the minority when it comes to conspiracy theories which imply the US government assassinated Hastings by taking control of his car and deliberately crashing it, I consider it a badge of honor.

Yup.

[graham4anything]

7. another conspiracy theory bites the dust, as all conspiracy theories do. Yup, it was him.

One would think any white house reporter is bonded and has been officially fingerprinted.

Though I am not sure if a blogger is considered a reporter, but some here have said he was a major reporter,
as such, I am sure every single one has been.

and it's like copyrighting a book in the library of congress.
One doesn't have to be a big time big paid writer.
Anyone can copyright their book and getting an official seal.

so another conspiracy theory that it wasn't him, does not pan out.

Conspiracy theories are not a good thing.

Anyone who is bonded in any profession has been fingerprinted and they are on file.
In fact, I don't personally know anyone who hasn't been.

Nothing sinister about it.

As Bill Shakespeare wrote "much ado about nothing".

[graham4anything]

17. the conspiracy theory were those(now of course 100% disproven) that said he died other than he did.

[premium]

23. OMG.

I don't believe it, we actually agree on something.
Will wonders never cease?

[premium]

10. When correspondents go overseas into active combat zones,

fingerprints and DNA samples are taken in case something bad happens and the body is so badly mangled that it's unrecognizable and those samples have to be used for identification purposes.

[magellan]

16. +1 That's how the FBI has his fingerprints

They wouldn't for a simple DUI as some suggest. There has to have been a government connection at some point to wind up in the FBI's database.

[pnwmom]

20. States and localities have been sharing fingerprint data with the FBI database since 1999.

There doesn't have to be a "government connection."

This law was passed in recognition of the fact that criminals -- including drunk drivers -- do cross state borders.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/iafis/iafis

[magellan]

21. It's still more likely they have Hastings fingerprints

...because he was embedded with the military.

[pnwmom]

25. If they hadn't already gotten them, they would have gotten them then, yes.

Here's more info about the FBI fingerprint database.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/iafis/iafis

[flamingdem]

38. They fingerprint you for a drivers license now nt

[Cali_Democrat]

19. Also

Let's say they didn't have his fingerprints, the FBI isn't just going to go up to him and say: "Hey, we're investigating you. Give us some finger prints so we can identify your body after we've killed you."

This is madness.

[premium]

24. Spot on.

There is no conspiracy here, he died in a tragic auto accident, nothing more, nothing less.

[hedgehog]

29. In this case, assuming the accident was a result of reckless driving and/or

driving under the influence (my default position until proven otherwise), it truly was a tragic accident; the hero destroyed by his own fatal flaw!

[premium]

33. Could have even been a medical condition,

was he diabetic? Did he suffer a stroke, heart attack? Did he maybe just fall asleep at the wheel?
The official autopsy should answer some of those questions.

[morningfog]

26. Well, that isn't how they would do it.

If they were investigating him and wanted his prints, they would get them off of a discarded can in the recycling or some other unknown way.

I am just addressing your logic. It seems there are at least to valid reasons that they had his prints, the DUI and the foreign journo reasons. I don't think the FBI having his prints indicates a conspiracy.

[Democracyinkind]

28. You're not allowed to ask questions about Hastings without being ridiculed. nt

[zappaman]

30. Questions can be asked without ridicule...

but ridiculous questions deserve ridicule.

[Democracyinkind]

31. Is this thread, in your view, an example of a ridiculous question?

[zappaman]

32. yes

What were the FBI doing with Hastings fingerprints on file?

A ridiculous question.

[Democracyinkind]

34. If you say so...

I wondered the same thing. Fortunately, I didn't ask it here..

[flamingdem]

36. drivers license require fingerprinting now nt

[Democracyinkind]

39. I wouldn't know that

also, I wouldn't have automatically assumed that the FBI has automatic access to that data.

[flamingdem]

40. Everything is connected these days it seems

Vermont came after me for a hitchhiking ticket from decades ago! I couldn't renew my license until I paid them. grr

[zappaman]

37. A reporter who was embedded in Iraq

and had security clearances to talk to the people he has talked to...and you wondered why the FBI would have his fingerprints?
Seriously?

[Democracyinkind]

41. I didn't know that he was in Iraq.

And I didn't know that they automatically take all fingerprints of journalists going there.

Seriiously! I am that dense! Feel better now?

Can I just point out that you offered 1 of 3 differing speculative accounts on how they obtained them? So far, I haven't seen a link that tells me which of the 3 sources was used.

[flamingdem]

35. I have to renew my drivers license and they want my fingerprints

I guess I can't really refuse but I don't like it much.

Watching foreign nationals enter the US and get fingerprinted had me thinking - ain't it grand to be an American
and not have to be finger printed.. oops