ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 4, 1997 TAG: 9703040067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DENVER
SOURCE: Associated Press
TIMOTHY MCVEIGH'S attorney says The Dallas Morning News stole hundreds of computer files, including FBI documents.
Timothy McVeigh's lawyer demanded an investigation Monday of The Dallas Morning News, accusing the newspaper of stealing hundreds of files from his computer, including a purported confession from the Oklahoma City bombing defendant.
Stephen Jones, while denying that the statement was in fact a confession, said: ``There is no justification whatever for this criminal act.''
Morning News lawyer Paul Watler said the newspaper ``met the highest ethical standards.''
``We did not break any laws,'' he said. ``We have no fear of criminal repercussions.''
Jones said that the newspaper broke into the defense's computer files and obtained hundreds of documents for McVeigh and co-defendant Terry Nichols, as well as 25,000 FBI files. Jones offered no proof that theft was committed.
In a story the newspaper published on line Friday - the deadline for 1,000 potential jurors to respond to a court questionnaire - the newspaper cited what it said was a defense memorandum that said McVeigh admitted to driving the explosives-laden truck that demolished the Oklahoma City federal building in April 1995. The memo said he chose a daytime attack to ensure a ``body count.''
``It is not a legitimate defense memorandum,'' Jones said. ``It is not a confession of Tim McVeigh.''
Asked about Jones' demand for an investigation, U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Leesa Brown said, ``Right now we have not received anything formally from him.''
Michael Tigar, Nichols' lawyer, said the only documents he gave to Jones were witness statements that have also been given to prosecutors. ``None of Mr. Nichols' confidential internal memoranda or attorney client privileged materials have been compromised.''
Jones said he is considering asking for a 90-day delay in the trial as a ``cooling-off period.'' He also said he would seek to have the trial moved if the newspaper published any more stories from the documents.
He said he would file a complaint with the Texas Supreme Court asking for an investigation into whether the reporter, Pete Slover, who is also a lawyer, should be disbarred.
In 1990, Slover pleaded no contest to trespassing for entering the Ellis County clerk's office after it closed and spending two hours there alone.
Before Jones' news conference, Morning News executives filed a statement in court saying they would not report any more information ``from material used as the source of the previous articles.''
LENGTH: Medium: 57 linesby CNB