Don Nickles: “I think it is somewhat of a tragedy. I read in today's paper that an official of the Department of Veterans Affairs said…”

“I think it is somewhat of a tragedy. I read in today's paper that an official of the Department of Veterans Affairs said that Tim McVeigh would be eligible to be buried in a national cemetery. I think that would be a desecration of our national cemeteries. I think it would be an affront to all the veterans who are buried in a national cemetery and to their families. In looking at the statutes, there is a forfeiture of veterans benefits for a lot of crimes: mutiny, sedition, harboring and concealing persons who have committed espionage crimes, gathering classified information for a foreign government, treason, rebellion, insurrection, and advocating the overthrow of the Government. But there is not for a Federal capital offense. Mr. McVeigh was found guilty by a jury, with a unanimous verdict of murdering--actually, I think the verdict was murdering eight Federal agents, Federal officers. He is responsible for the murdering or the deaths of 168 individuals, including 19 children. He planned this terrorist attack. It was not done at the spur of the moment. He planned it for months, maybe for years.”