San Diego

Tom Metzger, the white supremacist from Fallbrook, on Thursday appeared before the federal grand jury investigating the Sept. 15 bombing of the San Diego federal courthouse and was told he does not need to provide the subscription list to a newspaper run by his racial-hate group.

Metzger said federal prosecutors told him they “had received the information they were looking for from some other source.” He was ushered out of the grand jury room after being inside for about a minute. He said he could not elaborate because he knew nothing more.

Michael McAuliffe, a Department of Justice civil rights specialist and one of the prosecutors investigating the bombing, declined to comment on Metzger’s brief appearance before the panel. All grand jury proceedings are secret.

The bombing shattered the building’s front doors but caused no injuries. In recent weeks, Metzger has made several appearances before the grand jury, each time asserting that neither he nor anyone linked to his racial-hate group, White Aryan Resistance, was involved.

Metzger recorded a telephone call on a hot line run by WAR on Sept. 14, the day before the bombing, that included comments that may have inspired prosecutors’ investigation of him. Prosecutors also have declined comment on the taped recording.

Metzger said Thursday that he was not told if or when he would appear again before the grand jury.