THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: There's been an application for a Supreme Court appeal which could delay McVeigh's execution. That's Timothy McVeigh. The filing comes not from McVeigh, but from lawyers in an unrelated capital case who are trying to have McVeigh's execution videotaped. They hope to show that it's cruel and unusual punishment. When and if the Supreme Court will act is still unclear.
Joining us on the telephone is Richard Kammen. He is one of the attorneys that helped to file the application with the U. S. Supreme Court. Mr. Kammen, why is it you want to videotape the execution of Timothy McVeigh?
RICHARD KAMMEN, JOSEPH MINERD'S ATTORNEY: Well, as you said, we have alleged that the death penalty and especially execution by lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. What is not commonly known is that very often these executions go disastrously bad. They are the equivalent of torture. In many states, there's -- there's been just huge problems.
SAVIDGE: Well, let me get to that in a moment. Let me ask you this though: what is the likelihood or even a possibility that this legal action could delay the execution of Timothy McVeigh? Or is that not a possibility?
KAMMEN: I think none. We do not -- we did not ask that his execution be delayed. It seems highly unlikely that, and I think impossible, that the execution will be delayed.
SAVIDGE: Now, are you asking simply a recording of the feed that will be supplied to the victims' families, or are you looking for something more detailed than that?
KAMMEN: No, all we want is the feed that will be supplied to the victims' families. The only other thing -- and I think it would also be part of this -- would be insertion of the catheter in Mr. McVeigh's arm, but this could all be done through the Oklahoma City feed. We don't want anything else.
SAVIDGE: Now, you mentioned that this is cruel and unusual punishment. Many Americans believe that this was a more -- what can you say, a more palatable form of execution. A specific example of something that went wrong. KAMMEN: Well, in one case in Texas, for example, the individual -- the fluids started, the catheter came out of his arm, he said to the executioners: "My God! It's come out!" The fluids were spraying all over the room. They had to close the curtain 15 minutes later. They -- they get it all straightened out, and the execution resumes. He was seen -- he said that they are torturing me, they are killing me.
That's just one example. There are countless other examples throughout the country. Virtually ever state that uses lethal injection has had problems that are not commonly known.
SAVIDGE: Richard Kammen, thank you very much for joining us on CNN this evening.
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