FBI Document Raises Questions About Prior Knowledge in OKC bombing

FBI Document Raises Questions About Prior Knowledge

An FBI document released under the Freedom of Information Act to the McCurtain Daily Gazette raises renewed questions about the FBI's alleged prior knowledge of the plot to bomb the Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995. The document in question is a hotel receipt for FBI agent Danny Coulsen who was one of the Bureau's counter-terrorism experts in the mid-90s. It shows he checked into the Embassy Suites hotel on south Meridian in Oklahoma City 20 minutes after midnight on the morning of April 19th, 1995. It was 8 hours and 42 minutes before the bomb exploded and killed 168 people.

Coulsen stayed at the hotel during the bombing investigation and checked out on April 27th. The same records show he cited as his reason to come to Oklahoma City on the date in question, as 'major case Number 111'. An investigation by the Idabel based newspaper shows MC-111 turned out to be part of then attorney general Janet Reno's secret project to investigate and infiltrate religious right wing groups. Later in Coulsen's files, he refers to the Oklahoma City bombing as MC-117. Coulsen's not commenting about the document.

Yet in a book he wrote a few years ago about his FBI exploits, Coulsen claimed he was in Fort Worth, Texas the morning of the bombing and immediately drove to Oklahoma City. Gazette reporter J-D Cash spent a year appealing FBI denials for the records before they were recently revealed. However none of Coulsen's records prior to April 19th, 1995 were available. They were listed as 'missing'. Cash calls the hotel registration and receipt a 'smoking gun' when it comes to FBI prior knowledge to the plot to bomb the Murrah building. The man who was in charge of the Oklahoma City FBI office at the time of the bombing, Bob Ricks angrily denies the claim. He also refuted the record during an interview today on Newsradio 1000 KTOK's Morning Report. Ricks said there must have been a computer glitch. He claimed the local FBI office reserved a block of rooms for incoming agents who were needed after the bombing.

Ricks is now head of the Oklahoma Public Safety Department. He said he was unaware of the document and referred to reporter Cash as looking for 'poltergeists' in the bombing. Ricks later angrily chided Newsradio 1000 KTOK for airing the story and called it irresponsible journalism. When pressed to explain the check-in time of 12:20am April 19th, he said it was midnight the night of the bombing. A spokeswoman for Embassy Suites later confirmed the computer printout time reflected 12:20 a-m before the bombing and not the night of the bombing. The spokeswoman also indicated other times reflected on Coulsen's hotel bills appeared to be accurate.

In his book 'No Heroes' Coulsen said he checked out of the hotel and departed Oklahoma City on board an FBI jet bound for Kingman, Arizona on the afternoon of April 27th, 1995. The hotel records reflect he checked out at 11:16 am the same day. Tim McVeigh's defense attorney Stephen Jones says he wished he had the document at the time of McVeigh's trial. He told Newsradio 1000 KTOK's Morning Report if the document is indeed accurate, it again raises questions of prior knowledge on the part of the FBI. Jones also said criticism should not be heaped on reporter J-D Cash. Jones added the document must have some validity, otherwise the FBI would not have reimbursed Coulsen.

Ya know, there *was* prior knowledge - on the part of Michael Fortier.

Michael Fortier's Statement

Michael Fortier read the following statement during his sentencing hearing, although some of his testimony differed from the written statement. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for failing to warn authorities of the bombing plot, transporting stolen weapons, and lying to FBI agents when he was questioned after the bombing.
Note: Every effort has been made to precisely duplicate the content of the six-page handwritten statement of Michael Fortier. Spelling and style errors have been left intact.

Your Honor, I'd like to thank the Court for giving me this opportunity to speak.
I would also like to express my gratitude towards the U.S. Attorneys. It was clear to me, at times, that they were working under a heavey burden and yet they always treated me with respect and gave me fair treatment.
I have heard complaints that the F.B.I. have not done their job well. I have even complained about their treatment. This was before I got an inside look at how hard these people work. I know, by the questions that have been asked of me, that the F.B.I. has completely and thoroughly investigated the Oklahoma City bombing. They deserve all of our thanks.
My appreciation goes out to the U.S. Marshalls for their protection, transportation, and concern for my well being.
My lawyer, Mr. McGuire, has done so much for me. He always goes the extra mile and is, without a doubt, an excellent attorney. He is a caring and compassionate human being who I will forever be in debt.
Most importantly, my special thanks to the U.S. taxpayers. They have provided me, at no little cost, a level of legal representation I otherwise would not have had. Thank you all.
Your Honor, I shamefully admit that I have broken many laws. My actions and inactions have hurt a great number of people. I apologize to the good people of Oklahoma, Mr. Moore of Arkansas, my family, and the general public. You have all suffered for what I have done and what I failed to do.
In the fall of 1994, I was first asked by Tim McVeigh to help him and Terry Nichols blow up a building. I considered it an outlandish request and gave an equally outlandish and negative response.
Later, Tim explained to me how and why they wanted to do this. Very specific threats were made and, although I should have, I did not notify the police.
In December of 1994, I conspired to transport and then I did transport stolen weapons. I had to travel from Arizona to Kansas to get them. I was motivated by greed and did not care that they were stolen.
On the way there, I was shown the building in Oklahoma City that was being plotted against. I had neither the intent nor the desire to exit the highway that morning and I say for all to hear that I did not case the Murrah building. I did not and have not ever looked at any building with malice. Yet, I must add, I still did not take the information I had to the police.
In the spring of 1995, I was asked again by Tim to help with the bombing plan. I was told that Terry no longer wanted to help and then asked if I would do this or would I do that. I replied that I would not help in any way.
In another, later, conversation, I was told that we were no longer friends. Tim said he was on the high road and I was on the low road. Clearly we were both on the low road.
When I last saw him I thought his plan would never bear fruit. I thought he was heading to another part of the country to find people more like himself. I was terribly wrong.
I deeply regret not taking the information I had to the police. I should have let th epolice judge his intentions. Clearly I could not. I sometimes daydream that I did do this and I became a hero, but reality is that I am not.
The F.B.I. first spoke with me on the 21st of April. This day I proved beyond any doubt how self-centered and cowardly I could be. In the face of ungodly destruction and an ocean of grief I put myself first. I did not want anyone to know that I knew what had happened. I lied to the F.B.I. repeatedly and I concealed evidence I thought they would want.
My actions were terrible and I am so completely ashamed that I did not come forth with my knowledge right way.
In May of 1995, I was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Oklahoma City. I decided to drive there from Arizona and it was this drive that was a turning point for me. After much consideration, I decided to tell what I knew.
I was appointed a lawyer and I started to cooperate with the authorities. I have been honest in my testimony and eager to help in any way.
Your Honor, I understand there is nothing I can say or do now that can make up for what I did an didn't do then. Cooperating with the authorities now does not change the facts. When I should have been thinking of the safety of my fellow man I was only thinking of myself. Nothing I say will change the past but maybe I can say something to affect the future.
I have paid close attention to the testimony given by the bombing survivors. I do this in an effort to understand what they went through and indeed are still going through. The stories are so horrifing, so heartbreaking, and so full of human suffering that I cannot bear them. I am too weak to contemplate them for long. I feel as if my mind will break and I'll cry and cry and never stop. I cannot say that I understand the depth of their grief but I try.
What I have come to understand is their strength. For them to deal with this horror on a daily basis and not let it destroy them shows strength of charactor that is unsurpassed. I have found a deep respect for these people.
Dear people, please, I offer my apology and I ask you to forgive me. I offer my apology in the hope that if you will accept it the pain I have caused you will be reduced. Let the anger you feel towards me drain from your hearts and be replaced with feelings of peace. Please, please, don't let thoughts of me continue to hurt you.
Your Honor, for the last three years I have done my best to correct my behavior. My mind is clear and drug free. I no longer crave crystal-meth and have gained thirty pounds while in jail. I am cleaned up on the inside as well as the outside. I have helped the Oklahoma City bombing victims and survivors by helping the Federal prosecutors and will continue to due so on a state level.
Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to speak.
I assert that these words are my own and have come solely from within.
Michael J. Fortier

Two more things:
1) QUIT blaming it on the gov't and
2) READ McVeigh's book.

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