Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

McVeigh Execution Will Be Broadcast Via Closed-Circuit Feed

Aired April 12, 2001 - 09:21   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.
LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: In another story making news, Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh faces execution next month and Attorney General John Ashcroft said last hour he will allow the execution to be shown on a closed circuit television feed for survivors and victims' families to actually watch it.

Well, CNN's Gary Tuchman is in Oklahoma City for reaction to that announcement -- Hello, Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, there, Linda.

Two days ago, John Ashcroft was here in Oklahoma City. He toured this, the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, and he also met with 100 survivors and family members of the victims who were very united in what they wanted, and today, John Ashcroft gave them most of what they asked for.

On May 16th, 2001, the scheduled date of the execution of Timothy McVeigh, 10 of them will be allowed to personally watch the execution at the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. That's up from eight. That was the original number. Now it will be 10.

In addition, the rest of the family members of the victims and survivors who want to watch will be able to watch a closed circuit feed that will be provided here in Oklahoma City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The transmission to the victims in the Oklahoma City area will begin at the same time the curtain is opened for viewing by victim witnesses in the execution facility. All witnesses will see Mr. McVeigh on the execution table and they will be able to hear any final statement Mr. McVeigh makes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: This will be the first execution by the federal government in more than 38 years. The last time the federal government had an execution was March of 1963. So much of what the attorney general said today will serve as guidelines for future federal executions.

Now, Timothy McVeigh had agreed to do some television and newspaper interviews before his execution, but today the attorney general shot down the concept of any on camera interviews. John Ashcroft says that Timothy McVeigh can do interviews on the telephone but he only gets one 15 minute telephone call per day. That will not be expanded. So if he wants to do interviews it will have to be on the phone with that one 15 call per day and that is also something the family members here in Oklahoma City wanted, no on camera interviews for the man who is the worst mass murderer in U.S. history, Timothy McVeigh.

Back to you.

STOUFFER: Gary Tuchman, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com