MCVEIGH CONFESSION IN DOUBT

Reports thatbombing suspect Timothy McVeighmade a jailhouse confession taking responsibility for theOklahoma bombingsimply are not credible, says the sheriff of the Perry, Okla. jail. A prisoner in that jail claims McVeigh confided in him. The sheriff notes the prisoner is a twelve-time convicted felon, and has a history of lying.McVeigh lawyer Steven Joneswas quick to discount the story, which was first reported in this morning's New York Times. Making his second appearance in as many days on NBC's Today show, Jones said that such prisoner tales of confessions shouldn't be taken seriously. Jones has been pressing his client's case hard in the media the past few days. TIME legal correspondent Adam Cohen says this is part of a smart and necessary strategy. "The trial needs to be moved from Oklahoma to someplace where emotions aren't so high. What Jones is doing is speaking to all the potential jurors out there in an effort to counter all of the media reports that in many cases have already convicted McVeigh."Oklahoma Explosion Page