The city of Terre Haute and the state of Indiana were bracing themselves for Timothy McVeigh's execution Wednesday. Businesses, hotels, protesters and 1,500 media representatives from around the world were also bracing themselves for McVeigh's execution Wednesday. \nBut now everyone, including the many family members of the Oklahoma City bombing victims, has to wait. \nAttorney General John Ashcroft announced the execution will be postponed until June 11 because the FBI neglected to handover 3,135 investigative materials to the defense, including interview reports and physical evidence such as photographs, letters and tapes, according to Associated Press reports.\nAshcroft also said the execution will not be delayed any further after June 11. But the issue is not whether the execution should have been delayed or not. After all, McVeigh admitted to his crimes, and he has not asked his lawyers to pursue any further appeals.\nSome might ask why Ashcroft would delay the execution if the new evidence would make no difference in the outcome. But it isn't a matter of McVeigh's execution. It is simply a matter of principle. \nBy delaying the execution, Ashcroft upheld the integrity of the U.S. legal system.\nAnd by "forgetting" to disclose evidence to the defense, the FBI managed to undermine the legal system and demonstrate, yet again, that the FBI isn't meeting its standards.\nAt least they handed them over. Being a department that is designed to keep secrets, they could have just buried the documents. But still, the initial lapse is nothing short of very serious -- considering the Oklahoma City bombing is one of the biggest cases in U.S history.\nThe FBI needs to be investigated itself. President George W. Bush would be wise to appoint a commission to review the bureau.\nThere have been a number of problems with the FBI in the past year, including the February arrest of agent Robert Philip Hanssen, who is charged with selling national secrets to Moscow, and a botched investigation last year of former nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee.\nAnd the investigation should start now. After all, it is possible the new execution date will arrive and someone will mysteriously find another 3,000 documents the FBI forgot to turn over to the defense.\nThe irresponsibility of the FBI might have undermined the legal system but more seriously, it offered a grave disservice to the many U.S. citizens who were harmed by the Oklahoma City bombing.\nNow the hundreds of victims will have to wait another month to feel any sort of retribution for McVeigh's actions.
Staff Vote: 8 - 1 - 2\nYes - No - Abstain
