FBI suspected McVeigh link to robbers

(Washington-AP) -- The FBI once believed Timothy McVeigh tried to recruit additional help in the days before the deadly 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.<br><br>Federal investigators gathered evidence that white

Wednesday, February 25th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- The FBI once believed Timothy McVeigh tried to recruit additional help in the days before the deadly 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Federal investigators gathered evidence that white supremacist bank robbers may have become involved, according to government documents never introduced at McVeigh's trial.

The retired FBI chief of the Oklahoma City investigation says he was unaware of the evidence obtained by The Associated Press.

Dan Defenbaugh says an investigation should be reopened to determine whether the robbery gang was linked to McVeigh.

The evidence includes documents showing the Aryan Republican Army bank robbers possessed explosive blasting caps similar to those McVeigh stole.

It also includes a driver's license with the name of a central player who was robbed in the Oklahoma City plot.

This evidence was never shared with Defenbaugh's investigators or defense lawyers.