University Of Oklahoma's Shuttered Fraternity Reportedly Hires Timothy McVeigh's Lawyer

The local Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at University of Oklahoma has reportedly hired Stephen Jones, the high-profile attorney who represented American Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, to sue the school.

Stephen Jones after McVeigh was sentenced in 1997.

Susan Sterner / Associated Press

The now-shuttered Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at University of Oklahoma has hired attorney Stephen Jones, who defended Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, NewsChannel 4 reported.

The fraternity plans to pursue legal action against the university and its president, David Boren, the station reported.

Jones' law office did not respond to a request for comment, but a representative who answered the phone told BuzzFeed News that Jones was discussing "with [unspecified] clients" about whether to hold a press conference.

A CBS News reporter tweeted that the law office confirmed the report.

From NewsChannel4:

Jones told NewsChannel 4 the group is outraged over President Boren shutting down the fraternity house and branding all SAE members as racists and bigots.

Jones says the two students who were expelled because of the incident have apologized sincerely for their remarks, and now the incident is being exploited.

He said they lacked judgment in a social setting, but they should not be tarred and feathered as racists.

The fraternity's national headquarters said that while they were not involved in pursuing legal representation against the university, "certain local alumni" may have.

In a statement issued Friday, the national fraternity said:

"The Sigma Alpha Epsilon national headquarters, or national fraternity, has not retained legal representation, nor do we intend to pursue any action against the University of Oklahoma. Based on reports that have been brought to our attention, certain local alumni may have retained legal representation, but we cannot validate those reports nor are we involved in that matter. There has been no communication from the alumni advisory group to the national headquarters since the chapter closing. We support and respect the university administrators' decision to revoke recognition of the group."

Incidentally, Jones lost the 1990 U.S. Senate race as a Republic nominee against the incumbent senator David Boren, now OU's president. According to a 1997 New Yorker report, Jones received only 17% of the vote, "the lowest share for any major-party candidate in an Oklahoma Senate race in the twentieth century."

from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1GA0S1D