Nichols declines to testify before federal grand jury

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City bombing conspirator <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Terry Nichols">Terry Nichols</a></b> was called before a federal

Wednesday, June 15th 2005, 5:57 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols was called before a federal grand jury in Denver but declined to testify, according to a published report.

Nichols was taken before the grand jury Thursday from his cell in the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colo., where he is serving a life sentence without parole for his role in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building which killed 168 people.

His sister, Susie McDonnell, and ex-wife, Lana Padilla, confirmed Nichols' appearance before the grand jury. They also said the native of Lapeer County, Mich., fears for his safety in prison.

``It was very hush-hush,'' said Padilla, of Las Vegas. ``He told us he went in front of the grand jury, and he was kind to the people and just said this was not the right forum, this is not where he could talk.''

McDonnell said, ``He refused ... and gave an explanation why.''

It is unclear why grand jurors wanted to question Nichols.

The appearance is the latest twist in the case that appeared to be over when Nichols' state murder trial ended last year.

Since then, on March 31 and April 1, FBI agents discovered explosives underneath Nichols' former house in Herington, Kan. The FBI acted on information that came indirectly from another inmate, mobster Gregory Scarpa Jr., who was in contact with Nichols.

Nichols later complained in letters to victims that Scarpa had mixed the truth about the explosives with lies in an effort to get a reduced prison sentence.

Nichols was in Denver with his state attorney, Brian Hermanson of Ponca City, The Oklahoman reported. Hermanson declined comment Tuesday.

Nichols, 50, has said he would cooperate with a congressional investigation. U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., is considering a probe into the bombing and is seeking to meet with Nichols in prison.

In a phone call from Michigan, McDonnell said Nichols ``feels his life is very threatened.''

McDonnell said other inmates ``have told him he has been marked as a snitch and marked for murder, and so he's very fearful for his life.''

She blamed FBI misconduct for the problem but would not elaborate.

``His life has been put in danger, and we don't appreciate it,'' she said.

McDonnell said there have been recent death threats made against Nichols' ``whole family.''

``The FBI warned us,'' she said. ``We were warned to beware of our whole surroundings.''