Photo: Federal Bureau of Investigation · Public domain

Born in United States · Nationality American — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

Timothy McVeigh

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “Late disclosure of over a thousand FBI documents: Execution postponed and systemic failings identified” and “Voluntary waiver of remaining appeals followed by federal execution”.

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Profile No. 2315 · Updated on 12 October 2026

9Documented controversies

5Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2001–2002

Late disclosure of over a thousand FBI documents: Execution postponed and systemic failings identified

Investigation

One week before the original execution date, the government disclosed that hundreds of investigative documents had not been provided to the defence before trial; the total subsequently exceeded one thousand. The Attorney General postponed the execution by one month and referred the matter to the Inspector General.

Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Department of Justice OIGAn Investigation of the Belated Production of Documents in the Oklahoma City Bombing Case — Executive SummaryOfficial documentPrimary source
[2]
U.S. Department of Justice OIGAn Investigation of the Belated Production of Documents — ConclusionOfficial documentPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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Case · 8 documented stages

Voluntary waiver of remaining appeals followed by federal execution

Conviction

2000–2001-06-11

Voluntary waiver of remaining appeals followed by federal execution

Conviction

In late 2000, McVeigh waived his remaining ordinary appeals after the judge confirmed that his decision was voluntary and informed. Following a brief postponement caused by the late discovery of FBI documents, he was executed by lethal injection on 11 June 2001.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The Washington PostJudge Allows McVeigh to Drop AppealsPressVery high reliability
[2]
U.S. Department of Justice OIGAn Investigation of the Belated Production of Documents in the Oklahoma City Bombing Case — Executive SummaryOfficial documentPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1997–1999

Federal conviction on eleven counts, death sentence upheld on appeal

Conviction

In June 1997, a federal jury found McVeigh guilty on all eleven counts relating to the bombing; he was sentenced to death in August. In September 1998, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions and sentence; the Supreme Court subsequently declined to hear the case.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1995-04-14–18

Final preparations, truck rental and positioning of getaway vehicle

Conviction

In the days preceding 19 April 1995, McVeigh organised the final logistical arrangements, rented the truck used in the attack under a false identity and positioned a vehicle for his escape.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1995-04-19

Oklahoma City bombing: 168 killed and hundreds injured

Conviction

McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The attack killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds. He was arrested the same day during a traffic stop initially unrelated to the bombing.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
FBIOklahoma City BombingOfficial documentPrimary source
[2]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1993–1994

Anti-government radicalisation around Waco and distribution of propaganda

Conviction

After the Waco siege, McVeigh developed intense hostility towards the federal government. The FBI reports that he visited Waco during the siege and distributed anti-government materials there; the appeal record subsequently documented writings in which he justified violence against federal agents.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
FBIOklahoma City BombingOfficial documentPrimary source
[2]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1994-09

Formation of conspiracy with Terry Nichols and announcement of plan targeting federal building

Conviction

In autumn 1994, McVeigh told associates that he and Terry Nichols had decided to take offensive action against the federal government in response to Waco. He subsequently described a plan targeting a federal building and wanted the action to take place around the anniversary of the siege's end.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1994-09–11

Acquisition, theft and storage of components intended for bombing plot

Conviction

McVeigh and Nichols acquired and stored, under false identities and at different locations, materials and explosives intended for the bombing plot. The judicial record links these acts to the conspiracy tried in 1997.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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1994-11

Robbery of firearms dealer Roger Moore to finance conspiracy

Conviction

The appeal record establishes that McVeigh and Nichols robbed an Arkansas firearms dealer to finance their plan. Property from the robbery subsequently played a role in the investigation.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. McVeigh, 153 F.3d 1166 (10th Cir. 1998)Court decisionPrimary source

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)

Terry Nichols2 documented references
- Formation of conspiracy with Terry Nichols and announcement of plan targeting federal building Source ↗
- Participation in conspiracy targeting Oklahoma City federal building Source ↗
Ann Coulter1 documented reference
- Propos sur Timothy McVeigh et le New York Times Source ↗

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