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More charges against Rudolph?
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In this story:
From Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A growing number of law enforcement officials believe they have enough evidence to charge Eric Rudolph in the Olympic Park bombing and two other bombings in Atlanta, sources tell CNN.
But federal law enforcement officials are locked in a debate over the timing of any new charges against Rudolph, the sources say.
Rudolph is already charged in a January 29 Birmingham bombing of a woman's clinic that maimed a nurse and killed an off-duty policeman.
But so far, authorities have only wanted to question Rudolph in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing and the two other Atlanta bombings in 1997, one at a nightclub with a predominantly lesbian clientele and another at a woman's clinic in an Atlanta suburb.
One person was killed and 111 people were injured in the Olympic Park bombing. A dozen people were hurt in the other two bombings, none seriously.
Rudolph, 31, has been a fugitive since the Birmingham bombing. Authorities have been searching for him in the mountains of western North Carolina, the area he last called home and where authorities believe he is hiding.
He is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, and authorities have offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Nails may link Rudolph to bombings
Sources tell CNN that forensic tests show that nails and other materials taken from Rudolph's storage shed in North Carolina are identical to components discovered in bomb fragments found at the scene of the attacks in Atlanta.
Those pressing to bring new charges in the coming weeks believe that withholding information from the public about a potentially dangerous suspect is risky, particularly with the possibility of more attacks, the sources say.
Authorities also worry Rudolph may be stalking law enforcement officers as they search for him. Sources say that Rudolph is suspected of having a rifle and explosives and may be planning a confrontation.
Dynamite residue was found in Rudolph's truck and at a number of locations where he has been sighted, the sources said.
In addition, charging Rudolph in the Olympic bombing would signal the investigation is not about abortion ideology, officials say.
Charging him may reveal evidence
Still, some Justice Department officials question whether there is any strategic advantage to charging him now, the sources told CNN.
To do so would require revealing some of the evidence against Rudolph even before he's in custody.
Other officials argue that there is no deadline for charging Rudolph with additional crimes, and stronger evidence may be discovered in the future.
Attorney General Janet Reno must sign off on whether to charge Rudolph, and her timetable is unclear.
But some government investigators believe Rudolph is likely to strike again and say it's time now to take that step.