Oklahoma City Tragedy

Key bomb case witness makes deal

August 9, 1995

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (CNN) -- A former Army buddy of bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh will plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for his testimony before a federal grand jury. Michael Fortier testified for 3 1/2 hours Tuesday before the panel investigating the April 19 federal building bombing.

"I guess he will be indicted," said Fortier's attorney, Michael McGuire. "He will be charged on four counts."

A source said those counts are lying to a federal agent, interstate transportation of stolen firearms, a second firearms violation, and failure to report a serious crime. Maximum penalty for conviction on those charges is 23 years.

Michael Fortier's testimony came after his wife met with prosecutors in closed-door sessions on Monday. Lori Fortier, who was granted immunity from prosecution in return for her testimony, also testified Tuesday in a secret session at Tinker Air Force Base.

After that testimony, Mack Martin, Lori Fortier's attorney, told reporters that it was "a fair assumption" that before she agreed to testify, his client knew about the deal her husband reached with prosecutors.

But, Martin added, "as far as we're concerned, our testimony had nothing to do with Michael Fortier. She was testifying as to other people involved in the bombing."

Sources have said that Michael Fortier told investigators he knew of the bomb plot in advance and drove McVeigh to Oklahoma City last year to scout the federal building.

Law enforcement sources told CNN Tuesday that Lori Fortier was invited on that trip, but declined. Those sources said that she "did hear about plans" to blow up the federal building.

The grand jury has until Friday to hand down indictments in the bombing case. CNN's sources expect the indictments to be released Thursday and to name McVeigh, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier. McVeigh and Nichols are being held on federal anti-terrorism charges.



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