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For Immediate Release
May
11, 2001
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Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
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Statement
of Special Agent in Charge Danny Defenbaugh
Regarding OKBOMB Documents
The investigation
into the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Building, referred to as "OKBOMB", was one of
the most labor intensive efforts in FBI history. This investigation
produced millions of records, including 23,290 pieces of
evidence, over 238,000 photographs, and in excess of 28,000
interviews.
The OKBOMB Task
Force and Director Freeh requested all FBI offices to forward
items and documentation relating to the investigation to
the Task Force. On numerous occasions, commencing in the
fall of 1995, we sought and obtained numerous assurances
from FBI field offices and legal attaches that diligent
searches for documents had taken place and that all matters
relating to the investigation had been made available for
inclusion in the discovery process.
In December
of 2000, the FBI initiated procedures to ensure that all
OKBOMB investigative records were appropriately archived.
Over the course of the last several months, the FBI exercised
due diligence to ensure that all records created as a result
of the investigation were logged into and compared with
each of 26 data bases which serve as a repository for information.
During this process it was determined that some of the materials
from various FBI field offices were not a part of the investigative
database. Moreover, this was the first time the OKBOMB task
force had seen these materials, and none were used in the
Government's case. I informed senior FBI officials at Headquarters
for the first time on Tuesday, May 8, 2001 that the archiving
process had turned up these materials.
These materials
included results of interviews, notes, and transmittal envelopes
which contain physical items.
The FBI is working closely with the prosecutors and the
Justice Department to carefully review each item. The materials
have been provided to the defense attorneys, who are also
reviewing each of the items to ensure that there is nothing
that bears on the convictions or sentences of Timothy McVeigh
or Terry Nichols.
I have been
advised that the Attorney General has ordered an immediate
inquiry into this matter by the Department of Justice's
Office of the Inspector General.
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