FBI Director Addresses Flawed Forensics Investigation In Visit To OKC

The Director of the FBI visited with local law enforcement leaders during his visit to Oklahoma City.

This was after he spoke Sunday to a crowd of victims, families, and survivors of the Oklahoma City Bombing.

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Acting Director James Comey talked to News 9 about the bombing, the Tulsa reserve deputy case and the massive investigation into flawed forensic testimony that could affect thousands of criminal cases.

“I, everybody that works for me and the people behind us care a lot about justice,” said Comey. “And sometimes justice is when you find a mistake going back to try to fix it.”

Comey addressed the investigation into flawed forensic testimony head on during a news conference Monday.

This after the non-profit group the Innocence Project released findings of its investigation into more than 2,000 cases nationwide.

Comey confirmed they are reviewing hundreds of cases along with the Innocence Project, which helped bring the problem to light.

Both the FBI and the Justice Department admitted that between the 1970's through 1999, there were at least 268 cases where FBI hair analysis lead to a conviction. So far, their investigation reveals that most of their forensic examiners gave flawed testimony that favored prosecutors in more than 95 percent of the cases.

Comey said back before DNA tests, lab examiners were going beyond the bounds of science, but not intentionally.

“They were stating that a hair found at a scene was consistent with a hair found on somebody's head - without adding in every case that consistent doesn't mean it is the person,” said Comey.

Comey said he was also briefed Monday on the investigation into Tulsa Reserve Deputy Robert Bates.

Bates claimed he accidentally used his gun instead of a taser on a suspect during an undercover operation.

Bates now faces a charge of Manslaughter in the suspect's death. The suspect in this case was black and Bates is white. Comey said for now their investigation reveals there is no evidence of any civil rights violations.

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“New information can always come to light our eyes are always open, our mind is always open, but based on what we've seen so far we don't see a civil rights case,” said Comey.

Comey also paid tribute to those involved in the Oklahoma City bombing and said he also feels the country is safer now than it was on April 19, 1995 due to advances in technology.

This wasn't Comey's first stop in Oklahoma City and it won't be the last.

He said he plans to visit all 56 field offices at least four times during his tenure.