The FBI and the McVeigh case: What they're saying

Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Frank Wolf, left, questions Louis Freeh at Wednesday's hearing

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee:

"The task before us today and in the future is to fix the problems and ensure that the FBI has the tools and the management to keep it highly effective in carrying out its duties that the American people want it to carry out."

FBI Director Louis Freeh:

"The investigation and prosecution of this case was a success story, a significant accomplishment, and it pains me to have the hard work and accomplishments of both investigators and prosecutors overshadowed by the events of recent days."

Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky:

"The sacrifices that the members of the FBI have made and are making today sometimes get tarnished, unfortunately, by things like the McVeigh document matter. But I trust that will not be a permanent blight."

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois:

"This goes back, I think, to a culture that may have been created in the FBI as early as J. Edgar Hoover's reign, when independence was paramount and they sacrificed accountability in the process."

Rep. David Obey, D-Wisconsin:

"I just think this is a pitiful performance, which is feeding the paranoia of large sections of this country. And that's the last thing that we can afford these days."

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania:

"When the argument is raised that none of these documents will change the outcome, bear in mind we're talking about more than the determination of guilt. We're talking about a sentence. We're talking about the death penalty. When that is imposed, who can say what subtleties there may be in these documents which would have affected the death penalty?"