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Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:40:34 AM EST
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Bump and Update: It's official. Convicted bomber Eric Rudolph will be serving out his life sentence at Florence, Colorado's Supermax.

Jim Cavanaugh of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Birmingham, Ala., said Thursday Rudolph would be held on the "bomber's row" at Supermax, which holds Nichols, Kaczynski and other convicted bombers.

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Original Post:

Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty today to bombing an abortion clinic in exchange for two life sentences. He was not remorseful, and said the Government could "just barely" prove its case. He didn't speak much but he did express praise for his attorneys.

When asked by the judge whether he had set off the bomb in Birmingham, Mr. Rudolph responded, "I certainly did, your honor." But he also volunteered that the government could "just barely" prove its case against him, and that his lawyers were "very, very good, superlative attorneys."

Some victims are upset with his life sentence. They wanted death. Rudolph's ex-sister-in-law says,

Rudolph is hardly getting off easy. She said being kept in solitary confinement with only one hour a day of fresh air is a fitting punishment for an outdoorsman who hated the government.

"Knowing that he's living under government control for the rest of his life, I think that's worse to him than death," she said from her home in Nashville, Tenn.

Rudolph will go to a Supermax, probably the one in Florence, Colorado, known as "Alcatraz of the Rockies." It's certainly no picnic. Whether it's more desirable than death from the inmate's standpoint depends upon his or her view of life.

Among the more famous inmates at Florence: Richard Reid, "Shoe Bomber" - along with:

THEODORE KACZYNSKI, 56, the Unabomber, serving four consecutive life sentences.

TERRY NICHOLS, 43, now serving life for the Oklahoma City bombing

CHARLES HARRELSON, 59, the father of actor Woody Harrelson, is serving two life sentences for the murder of a federal judge.

RAYMOND LUC LEVASSEUR, 51, member of a U.S. radical group, serving 40 years for bombing buildings and attempted bombings in the 1970s.

EYAD ISMOIL, 27, serving 240 years for driving the rental van holding the bomb in the World Trade Center attack.

YU KIKUMURA, 46, Japanese Red Army terrorist, serving 30 years for transporting bombs in preparation for an attack on a Navy recruiting center.

LUIS FELIPE, 35, leader of New York's Latin Kings gang, who ordered the murders of six gang members from his jail cell and is serving a life sentence.

Once again, our congrats to the excellent defense team, headed by Judy Clarke, for saving Rudolph's life.

Update: This article reports that it was prosecutors who initiated plea offers.

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    Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax | 39 comments (39 topical)
    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#1)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Apr 13, 2005 at 01:30:16 PM EST
    Bloodthirsty savages. Rudolph will pay for his crimes. But his sentence is just.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 13, 2005 at 01:30:33 PM EST
    Was Rudolph asked for the names of the people who helped him while he was running and hiding? If not, which is what I think I remember reading, perhaps someone would know whether that's usual? I would think it might have been of interest in this case. -- Dog (Brother Dagger of Reasoned Discussion)

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jay on Wed Apr 13, 2005 at 02:05:44 PM EST
    Sometimes final justice is meted out by the other prisoners. Anybody in the prison rec rooms out there??? You know what you have to do. Just do me a favor, make it slow and painful! Thanks

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 13, 2005 at 03:20:36 PM EST
    Something is happening here we can't see, why would he role over on this one? when he hates the government soon much, or is it the government just got a nut case to admit to the bombing for some kind of political reasons? and what about the deal over the explosive devices? and the mines? who really did what and what about the money? but you guys know as well as i know he will be dead within 3 years, because he will be put into a cell with some other nut who will kill him. by the way isn't solitary confinement against international laws?...I forgot we don't follow international laws. "setup, coverup"

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 13, 2005 at 10:57:47 PM EST
    To: Che's Lounge The abortion doctors will eventually pay for their crime on humanity as well!!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 08:10:58 AM EST
    Certainly what Jay said was stupid, Mark, but you don't have to be a dick about it - I assume the point he was trying to make had something to do with the fact that the horror and destruction wrought by Rudolph deserve a greater punishment than the proverbial three hots and a (concrete) cot. Now, Jay, do you know why what you said was stupid? Because Rudolph's not going to be - ever - in a "prison rec room" with other inmates. He'll never - ever - shower with, be outside with, eat in the same room as, lift weights with, be in the prison machine shop/laundry/license plate factory with, etc., other inmates. He's going to a SUPERMAX, dumbass - I suppose primarily because he's assumed to be an escape risk, and secondarily to minimize his ability to communicate with others, given that his crimes are those of the "organized" variety.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 08:37:14 AM EST
    Che'... Bloodthirsty savages. Yep..... This guy deserves the death penalty... period!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 11:28:18 AM EST
    Johnny Lee Malvo, death penalty. Rudolph, life in prison. There is a significant disparity in dispensation of the dp.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 11:48:55 AM EST
    John Lee Malvo did not get the death penalty. He received a sentence of life without parole. The adult sniper, John Muhammad, was sentenced to death.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 01:00:12 PM EST
    Thanks TL, I had them confused.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 01:59:51 PM EST
    eric rudolph showed himself. that’s what my father would have said, had he lived to read the headlines this morning. eric rudolph “showed himself”, indeed! of all the articles i read on the case today, my favorite is a commentary by tommy tomlinson who writes for the charlotte observer, which is the paper my father read cover to cover each morning. read the article here [remainder deleted due to length]

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#12)
    by Kitt on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 02:49:02 PM EST
    "Whether it's more desirable than death from the inmate's standpoint depends upon his or her view of life." My idea of life is being able to enjoy the condition of any day at my will or whim - outside of the usual realm of 'stuff' e.g., work, cooking dinner, etc. Being told what to do, when to do it, how to do it, where to do it without the reasoning of why is prison enough for me. Not being able to walk outside whenever I want would be another HUGE drawback. Then to just be around all those.....criminals......because I'm pretty sure Mr. Rudolph sees himself better than. As for the 'GM' troll up above - 'abortion doctors' provide medical services. That "abortion clinic" that MSNBC and the other news services referred to was a medical clinic that also did abortions. I've been reading a couple of blogs (religious) that give me quite an insight into the 'conservative' side of my religion. I swear, if people would just take care of themselves without worrying what sin or wrong someone else is committing, I think 75% of the world's problems would disappear. It is so about control. Rent 'What the Bleep Do We know?' - incredible insights.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 10:34:58 AM EST
    Kitt: Great point!!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#14)
    by Andreas on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:19:47 AM EST
    When Eric Rudolph was arraigned in 2003 the WSWS wrote:
    The media is entirely silent on the larger issue: the role of the Republican Party in creating the political and moral atmosphere for right-wing terrorism, by whipping up hysteria over abortion, homosexuality, gun control and similar issues, and pandering to racism and anti-Semitism. There is a grotesque irony in the spectacle of Attorney General John Ashcroft presiding over the arrest, arraignment and prosecution of Eric Rudolph. Ashcroft has himself expressed political views on abortion and gay rights that are substantially identical to those voiced by Rudolph, whatever differences they may have on tactics. Many leading Republicans have made common cause with racist and white supremacist elements, particularly in the South, where such elements shifted their allegiance from the Democratic Party after the civil rights reforms of the 1960s.
    The case of Eric Rudolph: Right-wing terrorism and the Bush administration By Patrick Martin, 4 June 2003

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:22:24 AM EST
    Kitt Rent What the Bleep Do We know - incredible insights Seen it. Thought it was a simplistic, thinly-veiled attack against religion masquerading as intellectual insight. But I'm sure that's why you liked it (I know that’s why my Liberal pal liked it). I thought the bit on Quantum Mechanics and "creating the future" was interesting (albeit kind of "Matrix"-y), but did you get a load of the director claiming that the NA Indians could not even "see" the English sailing ships? Entertaining, but Ridiculous. Consume at your own risk.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:22:46 AM EST
    Kitt, Maybe pick up "Silent Scream" as a double feature.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:34:26 AM EST
    jlvnstn- Malvo is Life in Prison, thanks to the Supremes- he was 17 at the time.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 11:35:09 AM EST
    I was wrong to- thanks TL!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#19)
    by Sailor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 01:57:58 PM EST
    Ghost Dog has a point. Didn't everyone who helped Rudolph open themselves up to a felony murder charge? Maybe even RICO, since it was an ongoing criminal enterprise? The man was a terrorist, i.e. he committed violent acts to effect a political change. JCHFleetguy, the guy bombed the freakin' Olympics!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 02:36:17 PM EST
    Watcha yelling at me for - I don't like him and I didnt defend him. I just told someone with a simplistic anti-religious movie to promote about one that can perhaps give some insight into why people will turn into terrorists over abortion. I do not believe in the death penalty (notice my posts even on saddam hussein) but if this guy EVER gets out of jail it would be unreal; and probably based on the acts of a liberal not a conservative

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#21)
    by wishful on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 04:21:45 PM EST
    I think it has been shown that SuperMax facilities cause insanity. But with someone like Rudolph, how could one tell if he is being driven insane or if he was insane prior to the SuperMax experience?

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 07:42:40 PM EST
    Andreas, you, like most socialists, are irony-proof. Your group calls Republicans "racist" while advocating abortion: over 40 million dead in America alone to date, blacks at twice the population rate. Now they're moving in on the handicapped. 80% of children with Down Syndrome are killed. 12 million were killed in the Nazi concentration camps, to put it in perspective. "Grotesque" is hardly the right word for it. "Evil" fits. Note: this is not a defense of Rudolph's actions.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#23)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 03:28:13 AM EST
    Hey, Doc. I know that China uses abortion on a non-voluntary basis--what must Chinese women think we mean by "choice"--and for sex selection without much noise from our lefties. But have you heard anything about abortion for sex selection in the US? What I've heard suggests girls are being selected against. Any ideas?

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 09:54:51 AM EST
    This guy is going to have many long days to reflect on how good his attorneys were. I think he copped to avoid the death penalty, but life in supermax might be worse than death. I think there is no political will to find and prosecute the people who have helped this guy avoid capture. Kind of like the possible indictment of the cops who committed perjury, a crime was committed but the people who decide which crimes will be charged, they are likely to walk. I would reconsider and might support death as an option for life in prison no parole if the person sentenced got the power to choose that option. Then the process would have to be humane - probably morphine drip to suppress consciousness and breathing until death occurs. It's a complicated subject, so the usual public debate may not be up to the task. As a born-again, I think we all have a time ahead of when we will review our actions in life, bombers, abortion doctors, political hacks, all of us may get a moment to reflect if this was the best we could do with this life given to us.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 10:50:45 AM EST
    Here Here

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#26)
    by Andreas on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 02:27:50 PM EST
    "Doctor Ace" wrote that my "group" is "advocating abortion". That is not true. The WSWS and the Fourth International support and defend women’s right to abortion.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#27)
    by Kitt on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 02:41:07 PM EST
    Horse: Seen it. Thought it was a simplistic, thinly-veiled attack against religion masquerading as intellectual insight. But I'm sure that's why you liked it I don't even know if you'd call it 'thinly-veiled attack' - it was pretty forthright about it. Outside of not knowing you either, I'm pretty damned sure you don't know why I like or dislike anything. The reason I liked this particular movie was because of my science and medical background....I like stuff like that - physics,A&P. I find it fascinating. As for this: "but did you get a load of the director claiming that the NA Indians could not even "see" the English sailing ships?". That was the one thing I really struggled with believing. I suppose it's plausible especially if you or me are projecting our world (21st century) onto their world (15th century). As for the 'Fleet' guy - saw 'The Silent Scream' long ago while working at Planned Parenthood. However, none of this has anything to do with Eric Rudolph - unless he now wants to make the premise he was 'terrorized' into becoming an American terrorist by viewing such crap.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 05:46:48 PM EST
    Kitt I don't even know if you'd call it 'thinly-veiled attack' - it was pretty forthright about it. Yeah, I agree. But they interviewed a couple of religious leaders to cover the 'religious perspective' (you know, to make it look like the film had a modicum of impartiality). They had 'Ramtha' and an excommunicated (for pedophilia) Catholic Priest to speak for religion..! Not exactly religion's best and brightest. And the result was predictable, and not exactly impartial. That was the one thing I really struggled with believing. Really? That was just the worst offender as far as I was concerned. I didn't buy the bit about how "if you believed, with all your being (NO doubt at all) that you could walk on water, you could." Talk about a totally "new-age" idea (with 0 merit) trying to masquerade as scientific plausibility to explain a story in the bible..! And there were other instances of that sort of BS in the movie, I could go on and on, and on... But it was Entertaining... if not for the movie itself, then for the experience of shooting holes in it all night over dinner!

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 07:29:44 PM EST
    Kitt, You separate Rudolph's actions from his hatred and abhorance of abortion? Huh

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 16, 2005 at 11:22:40 PM EST
    Hola! I would of taken the death penalty myself. At Supermax: 1.)You live in isolation, with very limited human contact.One good thing about the Max, you probably wont great raped in there,because contact is so limited. 2.) You are in a cement box 23 hours per day, most likely 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays. 3.) Prison food and clothes the rest of your life. Food probably served at odd hours. 4.)More than likely the lights in the cell are working 24/7, and there is constant cameras watching your every move. 5.)You are in the middle of nowhere, far away from people who remotely care about you. Very limited access to attorneys, clergy, or friends ort family. 6.) The mentally and criminally insane as your neighbors, the few times you see them. I would of preferred death myself, than live in this meaningless existance. This is more or less death on the installment plan, and I am sure the 'Max is so monitored that one could not kill themselves, even if they wanted to. Bye Eric, have fun. Senor

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#31)
    by Johnny on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 02:38:35 AM EST
    How come the most rabid of the anti-choice crowd are almost always male? what the he11 do we know about it, anyways?

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#32)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 04:58:31 AM EST
    JCH. Being obnoxious on Sunday morning: Where? Where? Johnny: By "most rabid", what do you mean? The majority of abortion opponents are women--who can be expected to know about such things. Men are more inclined to act. Even though there may be fewer opponents, they are more likley to do noticeable things. If you wish to say that only those who are somehow directly involved in a particular issue have anything of value to say is not someplace you want to go. You'd have to poll the troops in Iraq, for example, about the war and ignore anybody else. BTW. Pretending to defer to women's special knowledge is not the best way to get laid.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 06:45:44 AM EST
    What is truly funny is that Eric Rudolph has made a statement saying the purpose of his plea deal was to stop the government from getting their wish -- to kill him, or so he says. The govt doesnt want to kill him .. the american people do. This country bumpkin southern extremist has NO idea what the rest of his life entails .. at a Supermax. The concrete box comment made me think -- being in a supermax is like being buried alive without being able to die.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 06:48:46 AM EST
    In fact, he probably planted the bomb and dynamite for the exclusive purpose of negotiating his existance with it.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 08:58:44 AM EST
    JCH. Being obnoxious on Sunday morning: Where? Where?
    Huh? If you are talking about my "here,here" comment above (maybe that should be hear?) it is an old fashioned way of shouting agreement - in this case with the comment right above me.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 09:13:39 AM EST
    Johnny, Just a little poll by a pro-choice group to support Mr. Aubrey

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 09:29:52 AM EST
    This country bumpkin southern extremist has NO idea what the rest of his life entails .. at a Supermax
    When I was a kid I was spanked for punishment. At about 11 I picked up a broom and told my dad he wasnt going to spank me. He calmly turned around, said ok, and grounded me for 2 weeks. Always wished after that I had stuck with the spanking. Prison for life is an UGLY concept - and my first reaction to all this is that I would choose execution - but human's have a drive for life.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#38)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 10:10:15 AM EST
    JCH. It's "hear!", short for "hear him!" I recall a number of guys trying to pretend to be on the side of The Women in college in the Sixties. Didn't work, Johnny. MOST especially wrt the cute ones.

    Re: Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 10:23:49 AM EST
    Richard, The disturbing thing is that we have been falsely taught that "We cannot know how [they] feel". You can fill in that [they] with a lot of different things. In a sense that is true - we will never be the victim of racism, sexism, a debilitating disease, etc; but it has led to the belief that sympathy/empathy is impossible or even wrong. We can only have political/ethical/social dialogue if we try to see the issue through the other person's eyes along with our own.

    Eric Rudolph Sent to Colorado's Supermax | 39 comments (39 topical)