The FBI 's bureaucracy , and Pickard in particular , has been implicated as an opponent of FBI agent John P. O'Neill who led the FBI 's investigation into Osama Bin Laden prior to the September 11 attacks . A leak to '' The New York Times '' in August 2001 regarding a security breach by O'Neill resulted in O'Neill leaving public service . Pickard has been alleged to be the source of the leak . O'Neill took work as the director of security at the World Trade Center , where he was killed on September 11 , 2001
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Thomas J. Pickard