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American Morning

Attorney General to Allow Closed-Circuit Broadcast of McVeigh Execution

Aired April 12, 2001 - 09:02   ET

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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: But first, to Washington, where Attorney General John Ashcroft is about to announce several decisions regarding the execution of Timothy McVeigh. A key issue is whether a closed-circuit television feed will be provided so survivors and family members of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing can watch McVeigh die. Ashcroft is expected to say yes to that request.

The attorney general's news conference is about to begin. In the meantime, let's go now and check in with our Kelli Arena, who is standing by in Washington -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Leon, Justice sources have told us that yes, Attorney General John Ashcroft is set to allow the families of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing to watch the McVeigh execution on closed-circuit television. You may remember that the families were allowed to do the same regarding the McVeigh trial that was held. They were sat in a room and watch on closed-circuit television.

There was some concern surrounding this not to give Timothy McVeigh any platform to further taunt the families. So, we're expecting that there may be some restrictions on that viewing, perhaps that they won't be able to hear his last words and just witness the execution.

There's also some concern about whether or not the attorney general will allow networks to interview McVeigh. He has -- he has said he would talk to some news outlets, but again, the concern is that he'll use that as an opportunity to further harm the families of the victims who he's already caused enough harm to.

So, lots of concern over it at Justice. Of course, they're Treading very lightly here because this is the first federal execution since 1963. So, anything that they do here could serve as a precedent for future federal executions. We know of at least one more that is scheduled for this year.

The attorney general is supposed to start talking any second now. He's usually pretty much on time. So, there will be the whole process laid out. Another concern here is whether or not Mr. McVeigh will have an opportunity to appeal within the final two hours. Sources tell us that will not be the case. The last chance for an appeal will be in conversation with lawyer two hours before. After that, we're told it's going to be a done deal. The way this works is that 10 minutes before the scheduled execution time, prison authorities will have open phone line straight to the White House, straight to the Justice Department. They'll get an OK. They go ahead.

There is no indication at this point that Timothy McVeigh will file an appeals process. So, we are fully expecting this to go through. Again, though, he does have the one window of opportunity right before the final two hours. Sometimes you do have an opportunity within that final two hours, but in this case, Justice Department, we are told, has decided against that -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, Kelli. While we're waiting for the attorney general to come out, let's go to our Gary Tuchman, who's standing by in Oklahoma City this morning, and he's also listening in all this. Gary, let's ask you about what you've been hearing people say about this, about whether or not McVeigh's execution should be televised via closed-circuit?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, the attorney general was here in Oklahoma City Tuesday. He met with about 100 family members of the victims and also survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing. And by all accounts, everyone who was in the meeting with the attorney general told him they want the chance to watch this on closed-circuit television.

Most of them said it would be fair to have closed-circuit hook- ups here in Oklahoma City and also in Terra Haute, Indiana, where the execution is being carried. But there was no one at this private meeting who said no, we don't think this should happen. So, there's very strong support to be able to watch the execution of Timothy McVeigh.

HARRIS: Gary, that's what they said about a closed-circuit. But dud the idea of having it actually televised come up at all? And I don't only just mean on a closed-circuit basis. I'm talking about televised perhaps on a national basis. Did that idea come up?

TUCHMAN: Oh, I'm sorry. It was hard for me to hear you say that, Leon. Yes, that came up. No one is in favor of that. They do not want to see public execution where the American public can watch. One other thing they don't want, Leon, is they don't want the chance for the news media to further interview Timothy McVeigh. They strongly told John Ashcroft they don't want to see that to happen, and Ashcroft indicated even before the meeting that he also didn't want to see that happen, but he wanted to explore the issue before making a final decision on that.

HARRIS: OK, let's go back to our Kelli Arena who's standing by in Washington -- Kelli.

ARENA: Leon, I just wanted to chime in on that point. We were told emphatically by Justice Department officials that that was a scenario, the whole idea of broadcasting this for the public, that was complete -- that was shot down immediately. That was something that was never -- that never got any legs, that that was an idea wasn't given serious consideration.

But of course, closed-circuit television, because that was what the family wanted, and Justice has made that very clear all along that it really wanted to help these families get some sense of closure here, that -- there are only eight family members who are going to allowed in that room, so there are hundreds that are interested in witnessing this, and there is some sense that seeing the final act done will allow them to finally bring this whole episode to an end.

So you know, again, Leon, another thing is technical concerns. That was something that people were very worried about is whether or not you could safely transmit this to where the families were without having it intercepted. There were those concerns as well during the trial that was shown on closed-circuit television.

Very different, though, very different if you intercept a feed of a trial or intercept a feed of an execution. But we are told by some people who do this, you know, companies that do this -- I checked in with them, and they said it can be done. It's an encrypted feed that is dealt with. There's nothing on tape that can be stolen or somebody could get hands on that and then, maybe broadcast it. This is encrypted. It's a one-time feed, and then that's it. It doesn't exist anymore.

HARRIS: Understood, understood. All right, Kelli Arena, you stand by; Gary Tuchman you stand by.

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