More involved in Oklahoma City bombing?

Rita Cosby Anchor • Profile

Today is the 11th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. 

Josh Nichols, son of Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols, sat down with Rita Cosby for an exclusive interview that airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

The interview took place in a prison where Josh Nichols is awaiting sentencing for a crime unrelated to the bombing. This is a transcript from their conversation.

RITA COSBY, HOST, 'LIVE & DIRECT': Do you think you're being overcharged? And that this has happened to you a bit before because you're Terry Nichols' son?

NICHOLS: Oh, absolutely. I have this shadow pulling at me and it's been pulling at me for 11 years. I've pulled back and I've done some great things in my life. Been through programs, the programs were great. It is what you make it. If you want to use the program to your advantage, go ahead and make something of yourself. And that's what I chose to do.

But we have bad days. Sometimes we have poor judgment. And I made some bad decisions. And I jump back in the streets and I committed some crimes.

COSBY: Do you feel you've been punished enough in your life just by being Terry Nichols' son?

NICHOLS: You know, I wouldn't really know what punished enough is. The stuff I've been through in my life I wouldn't wish upon nobody. I've been sentenced for 11 years, I've been called John Doe number two, this could be a terrorist, he could be John Doe number two by the FBI.

At 12 years old I was labeled as a could-be terrorist. I just go through life called the bombers' son or there's bomber, just pointing fingers at me and calling me names and just unfair treatment.

I can't convey to you enough how my life just took a downfall from that point forward. I wish my father was here today. I mean, physically he's not, but mentally he does his job. He keeps in contact with me. He keeps his faith and he's such a great person. To know him is to love him.

COSBY: Do you believe in this case that the government wants to keep your dad quiet and maybe is punishing you and others?

NICHOLS: Yes.

COSBY: Do you believe what your dad is ready to say about the Oklahoma City bombing could hurt the U.S. government?

NICHOLS: I believe it could.

COSBY: And how so?

NICHOLS: Because he knows what happened that day. He knows what happened in Oklahoma City.

COSBY: And how many others do you believe are involved?

NICHOLS: I couldn't put a number on it, you know? It could be five, it could be 10, it could be more, but there has to be others involved.

COSBY: And why do you think that?

NICHOLS: Because of how he has tried to reach out to other people and say what he knows, and somehow, some way, they keep the public from knowing the truth. And maybe one aspect of it is charging your son with attempted murder.

COSBY: How do you describe your dad? Because some people in the American public call him a monster.

NICHOLS: My father is no monster. My father is not a monster. McVeigh is a monster. My father has a heart. My father loves people.

COSBY: How often do you communicate with your dad? How do you communicate with your father? Is it phone calls, letters, visits?

NICHOLS: He calls my house like once a month, once every other month. His calls are very limited. I haven't spoke with him for a very long time because of my incarceration, but his belief, he believes in the Lord so much and when I think about the Lord I think about my father. When I think about God I think about Terry.

COSBY: Your father is Christian.

NICHOLS: Yes he is.

COSBY: You believe faith has helped him?

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