Fortier apologizes for not stopping Oklahoma City bombing

Fortier

February 11, 1998
Web posted at: 1:58 p.m. EST (1858 GMT)

DALLAS (CNN) -- Michael Fortier, the U.S. government's key witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, apologized to victims for his failure to stop the 1995 tragedy and called his actions "an unconscionable mistake," the Dallas Morning News reported.

"The images of the victims, and especially the children, are forged in my mind. I will never forget," said Fortier in a statement given to the newspaper.

Fortier, a former Army buddy of convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh, knew of the plot to blow up the Oklahoma City federal building. Fortier said he closely followed the testimony of bombing survivors and relatives of the 168 people who died in the April 19, 1995, explosion.

"What I have found is the pain of that day is so intense that when I try to embrace it, I cannot. This has given me a deep respect for the victims, who have no choice but to live with this pain daily," he said.

Fortier faces sentencing on four bombing-related charges but no date has been set. The maximum sentence could be more than 20 years, but prosecutors are expected to ask for leniency -- perhaps no more than time already served -- because Fortier pleaded guilty and testified against McVeigh and co-conspirator Terry Nichols.

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• Oklahoma City bombing trial

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