ATLANTA. Oct 9: Federal investigators have dropped their surveillance of Olympic bomb suspect Richard Jewell and have agreed to clear him oi suspicion if they are satisfied with his answers to a weekend interrogation, one of his attorneys said on Tuesday, reports Reuter.
Lin Wood, a civil lawyer with the former security guard's four-member legal team, also said the FBI on Tuesday returned the last of the property confiscated during a search of his suburban Atlanta apartment, namely several rifles and handguns.
Jewell. 33, so far the only named suspect in the investigation. spent nearly six hours on Sunday answering questions from the FBI about his behaviour during the July 27 pipebomb attack, which left two people dead and more than 100 injured at Centennial Olympic
Park in downtown Atlanta.
His lawyer said the interview was part of a deal with US attorney Kent Alexander that could soon lead to Jewell's exoneration.
"In return for allowing him to be interviewed, they committed to us in good faith to expedite their consideration of his interview, and if they are satisfied with his interview, the US attorney will issue a written letter indicating that he is no longer a subject or target of the investigation.'' said Wood.
"We hope that letter will Include some statement that the department of Justice regrets the problems, inconvenience and hardships that it’s caused on Richard and his mother." he added.
"We expect to get that letter because we believe that Richard’s told them everything they need to know or want to know, and he's telling the truth he didn't do this. Ana hopefully they'll reach that conclusion in
the next few days or the next two or three weeks.”
G Watson Bryant. Jeu cell’s lead attorney, later said feo’eral officials have promised to reach a decision on Je'vell within three weeks.
They said that they ho p * to get to you' within three week s." he said.
They could give us a let1 er today, but 1 doubt it. They've g ot to take a five-and-a-half-hot ir interview and they've got to v.° through it and make sure they’re comfortable saying he’s no longer a subject or target am 1 that they regret what happener I' to him."
A s|x>kvsman loi the US al torney g office in Atlanta declined to comment on the case
Wood is one of two civil lawyers hired by Jewell to help him determine whether there are grounds for a lawsuit against both the US government and members of the news media.
On the night of the explosion. Jewell worked as a security guard at a nearby Olympic payifion operated by AT and T Corp for the Atlanta Summer • Gaines.
At first, he was hailed as a hero for finding the green knapsack that carried the crude pipebomb. But he was named as a suspect a few days later and has since been forced into seclusion.
The FBI searched the apartment he shares with mother, a tool shed in northern Geogia and a rural cabine where he once lived, confiscating property at each site.
Jewell, who has never been charged in any crime and steadfastly maintains his innocence, has said through his attorneys that FBI leaks to the news media about his role as a suspect have ruined his chances of finding gainful employment.
Until last week. FBI agents kept him under round-the-clock surveillance. Ten overt surveillance was replaced by what his attorneys described as covert surveillance. Now, Wood says there appears to be no surveillance at all.
"I don’t think there's any surveillance on Richard Jew«U now. At least since last Thursday. there has been no surveillance." said Wood.
"On Saturday, all of his property and his mother's property was returned. With the exception of his guns. This morning they returned his guns | to him."