FBI chief: 'Major error of judgment' in bombing interview

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- FBI Director Louis Freeh testified Monday that there was a "major error of judgment" in the way agents interviewed Olympic security guard Richard Jewell after the Olympic Park bombing a year ago.

Freeh, appearing before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee, said that agents interviewed Jewell last year about the bombing under the pretext of creating a training video.

During the questioning, agents decided they needed to give Jewell a Miranda warning, asking him to waive his rights to have an attorney present. They incorporated the warning into the training video scenario, Freeh testified.

But Freeh said the FBI's questioning of Jewell did not result in a violation of legal standards. "Mr. Jewell was not deceived, and promptly called for his lawyer," Freeh testified.

320 K/27 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

He also said that he had no information suggesting that the FBI had leaked Jewell's name to the news media as a suspect in the bombing "and no reason to believe that the information came from any representative of the FBI, which next to Mr. Jewell suffered most from the disclosure."

192 K/17 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

The hearing is designed to examine the FBI's investigation and the bureau's treatment of one-time suspect Jewell.

Mike Shaheen, counsel of the Office of Professional Responsibility at the Department of Justice, is also testifying.

Hearing starts a day after bombing anniversary

The hearing came a day after a memorial was held in Atlanta marking the first anniversary of the bombing, which killed one person and injured 100.

"Let the world not forget Alice Hawthorne," a weeping John Hawthorne said of his wife during the Sunday service led by Mayor Bill Campbell at Centennial Olympic Park, where the bombing occurred.

Mrs. Hawthorne died when the bomb exploded during last year's Summer Olympics. A Turkish television cameraman, Melih Uzunyol, suffered a fatal heart attack while running to film the aftermath of the explosion.

Crime remains unsolved

A year later, the crime remains unsolved. Investigators leaked the name of a suspect -- Jewell, a security guard who first spotted the backpack containing the bomb -- but later he was publicly cleared of all suspicion.

Authorities now think the Olympic Park bombing is linked to two later attacks in Atlanta -- the bombings of a women's clinic where abortions are performed and a gay nightclub.

Among those who gathered at Sunday's service was Alice Hawthorne's daughter, Fallon Stubbs. Mrs. Hawthorne had brought the 14-year-old to a rock concert at the park as a pre-birthday treat.

"Time has taken away some of the pain," said the teen, who was hit by flying shrapnel during the bombing and plans to undergo cosmetic surgery to repair the damage.

"It's really hard today ... to be here. But it looks real nice," she said of the park.

Hours earlier, at 1:20 a.m. -- the exact time when the bomb went off a year ago -- a man placed candles at the bomb site.

Ron Jones of Palo Alto, California, was in the park at the time of the bombing and said he did not want the victims to be forgotten.

Jones also put up signs in the park. They read: "To the Olympic Park bomber, please surrender."

• Message Board: Olympic Park bombing
• Video Almanac:1996 - Olympic Park bombing
• Video Almanac:1996 - Jewell cleared

Search for related CNN stories:   [Help] Tip: You can restrict your search to the title of a document. Example: title:New Year's Resolutions

Sound off on our message boards Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.