Art Terrorism?

Have you been following the saga of Steven Kurtz? He is an artist and art professor who is currently under federal investigation for bioterrorism. When the story first broke, I (stupidly, as it turns out) said nothing. It was all just too asinine and sad for words. The man is an artist studying DNA modification. It is not illegal to own scientific equipment in this country. Was it truly necessary to confiscate his wife's body, as well as his belongings, and detain him? Surely at any moment, I thought, someone with Authority is going to call a press conference and say, "We cannot humbly apologize enough to Mr. Kurtz. It was our dumb, dumb mistake." But, no! And, with each passing day, events have become more unbelievable.

Cicero once said, "To err is human, but to persevere in error is only the act of a fool. " (Philippicoe; XII, 2) Has no one involved in the prosecution side of this case studied historic fallen Republics (and/or the writings of wise minds thereof)? Or are they just assuming that history never repeats itself?