Federal Judge Grants Immunity For Sister Of Bombing Suspect
Jennifer McVeigh was granted immunity from prosecution shortly before she testified before a federal grand jury that is expected to indict her brother in the federal building bombing.
Chief U.S. District Judge David Russell granted McVeigh immunity during a brief hearing Wednesday, The Daily Oklahoman reported.
“She was informed she is not a target, she is not a subject of this grand jury. And of course she is extremely relieved about that because now she knows for sure she will not be indicted,” her lawyer Joel Daniels said.
A federal law enforcement source previously told The Associated Press that McVeigh, the sister of bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh, made a deal with prosecutors and would testify as a friendly witness.
During a break in the grand jury proceedings, McVeigh, visibly upset, dashed into the hallway and then to a nearby restroom. She did not speak with reporters.
After being in the city for a little more than 24 hours, McVeigh was escorted to a commercial plane by an FBI agent. She shook hands with the agent and appeared in good spirits as she left. She lives in Pendleton, N.Y.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Mullins declined to comment on her testimony or any possible deals.
Federal authorities have said that McVeigh shares anti-government views with her brother.
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are the only two people charged in the April 19 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people and injured more than 500. Both are being held without bail under a federal anti-terrorism statute that carries the death penalty.
McVeigh did not visit her brother in prison during her stay. “She just didn’t have enough time,” said Stephen Jones, McVeigh’s attorney. “She wanted to see him and he wanted to see her, but it just wasn’t possible to arrange.”
CNN reported Wednesday that Timothy McVeigh had applied for credit under two aliases that have been linked to the bombing.
A computer check of credit applications using McVeigh’s Social Security number turned up applications made under the names of Robert Kling and Shawn Rivers, CNN said.
Authorities say the Ryder truck that carried the bomb was rented by a man using the name Bob Kling. An FBI affidavit supporting Nichols’ arrest said a storage shed in Herington, Kan., was rented under the name Shawn Rivers a week before a ton of ammonium nitrate fertilizer was purchased from a nearby farm co-op.
The addresses used with the names Kling and Rivers include McVeigh’s past mailing addresses in Lockport, N.Y., Fort Riley, Kan., Michigan and Kingman, Ariz., CNN said.