August 10, 1995
From Correspondent Tony Clark
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (CNN) -- One hundred and thirteen days after the nation's most deadly terrorist act, former Army buddies Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were indicted for the Oklahoma City bombing.
Attorney General Janet Reno announced, "The indictment contains 11 counts. The first three are for conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction to kill people and destroy federal property. " The eight remaining counts are for killing federal law enforcement agents. If McVeigh and Nichols are convicted, U.S. Attorney Pat Ryan wants them to pay the ultimate price. He said, "I intend to recommend the death penalty."
The indictment alleged that McVeigh alone set off the bomb that destroyed the federal building, but it indicated others unknown to the grand jury may have been involved in the plot. Michael Fortier was charged today; not with participatingin the bombing, but with firearms violations as well as lying to a federal agent and prior knowledge of a felony. Ryan wasn't about to let Fortier get away unscathed. "Michael Fortier was charged with every charge we could convict him of."
Fortier pleaded guilty to the charges this afternoon but he won't be sentenced until after he testifies against Nichols and McVeigh. Attorneys for Timothy McVeigh downplayed Fortier's impact. Stephen Jones said McVeigh will testify in his own behalf and there may be a surprise defense witness. That witness could be a government informant who claims to have heard plans by a radical group to bomb federal buildings.
Stephen Jones wants to make sure that prosecutors aren't getting in a hurry."We have repeatedly expressed our concern that there is a rush to judgement in this matter and for political reasons, the indictments and prosecutions of a limited number of drifters will be passed off to the public as a completely successful investigation resulting in the arrest of all concerned. These assurances are, to be certain, not credible."
Terry Nichols' attorney also come out swinging. He blasted the grand jury indictment and said he wants Nichols to be tried seperately from McVeigh.
While charges against Terry Nichols were being announced, unrelated explosives charges against Nichols' brother James were dropped. Even so, James Nichols says this experience has changed his life. You can detect the bitterness when he says, "It's changed it all, I mean, who's going to fix my reputation? I don't think todayis going to fix my reputation... can you fix it?"
Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh will be arraigned next week. Prosecutors say the trial won't be held for at least six months.
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