Why is it that of all the people on death row, only Timothy McVeigh actually had his sentence carried out within 4 years, while everyone else takes 20?
Because the link between TMcV and the Muslims must never be known.
Because they wanted him to shut up asap. I think McVeigh could have caused some problems if he really decided to spill the beans.
Timothy McVeigh didn't fight the sentence with appeals.
Most people on death row were probably sentenced under a state law. But I believe McVeigh was under federal. If memory serves, after the Oklahoma City bombing, Congress passed legislation that among other things was designed to do something about the long delays in carrying out death sentences in federal cases. Sen. Hatch may have been one of those behind this . . . I'm not certain. But I do think this is what explains why McVeigh was executed quickly. It would not have happened without the newly passed legislation.