Six boxes of Jack Anderson's papers that a University of Utah professor has been keeping are safe from the FBI's reach for now.

The FBI wants the papers of the late muckraking journalist because it believes some of the documents in the collection contain classified information dealing with national security.

University of Utah political science professor Tim Chambless, who wrote a dissertation on Anderson, has collected the documents for years. Anderson, who died last year at 83, gave him many of the documents.

Initially, Chambless provided the FBI with a catalog of what the papers said. Now, he fears the FBI may come with subpoenas demanding everything.

His worry that he might be asked to provide more information came after the FBI contacted the Anderson family this spring, wanting to look at approximately 200 boxes of the journalist's papers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During a congressional hearing last week, Anderson's son said his family would defy an FBI subpoena.

In Utah, Chambless took a similar stance, and his lawyer fired off a letter Monday to FBI Director Robert Mueller, telling him to back off.

"The Anderson papers Professor Chambless has will not be released to any third parties, including the FBI," Pat Shea wrote in the letter. During a news conference at his law office, Shea said Chambless had given him the boxes.

Chambless said he just wants to continue writing a book about Anderson and the many government scandals he uncovered.

"I share with Jack Anderson a strong view of the First Amendment," Chambless said.

Chambless said nothing in the documents threatens American national security. He suggested the FBI wanted them because "political security" was threatened.

"Certainly administrations would prefer not to have their mistakes made known to the working press," Chambless said. Some have suggested the Anderson papers are a stepping stone for a Bush administration crackdown on reporters who publish classified documents and refuse to reveal sources.

While in Utah last week, Mueller denied those accusations.

"We're trying to determine whether or not national security would be adversely impacted by the disclosure of these documents. That's our sole intent," he said on Wednesday. "I hardly think that is an assault on the press."

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com