Sources And Denials

This story is based on statements made to law-enforcement officials by the four men who have admitted their involvement in the Kerrigan attack—Shawn Eckardt, Jeff Gillooly, Derrick Smith and Shane Stant—plus reporting by SI's Martin Dardis, Michael Jaffe, Lester Munson, Stefanie Scheer, Shelley Smith and Sonja Steptoe.

Gillooly and, to a lesser extent, Eckardt are the sources for the parts of the story that implicate Tonya Harding. One of Harding's lawyers, Robert Weaver, says that Harding will not respond to "piecemeal accusations" that she was involved in the assault. In a Jan. 27 press conference Harding denied having any prior knowledge of the Jan. 6 attack and said she learned only later that people close to her were involved. During a 10½-hour interview with the FBI on Jan. 18, Harding said she became aware only on Jan. 11 of Gillooly's involvement. She also specifically denied to the FBI most of the allegations made by Gillooly and Eckardt.

Last week the U.S. Figure Skating Association concluded that reasonable grounds exist to hold a disciplinary hearing to decide whether Harding violated the association's code of ethics. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it was considering action that could remove her from the U.S. team that will compete in the Lillehammer Games.

Gillooly alone is the source of the suggestions in the story that Agnes Eckardt had a hand in the plot. Her lawyer, Mark Cross, says, "At no point was Agnes Eckardt involved, nor did she knowingly participate in any conspiracy to cause physical harm to Nancy Kerrigan." Shawn Eckardt, who would have been present for all the remarks that Gillooly attributes to Agnes Eckardt, last week told Portland's KATU-TV that his mother had played no role in the scheme.