Clint Eastwood's new film restores the "hero" status of the security guard whose life was ripped apart by claims he bombed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the director and stars said Wednesday. "Richard Jewell" dramatizes the story of the innocent man who found himself at the center of a terror investigation and devastating media storm following the blast at the Summer Games which led to two deaths and wounded over 100 people.

Never arrested or charged, Jewell was cleared by the FBI after 88 days.

Riley also defended the newspaper's sourcing, writing that the investigation into Jewell was about to be made public and that AJC's later reporting helped to exonerate Jewell.

In 2007, Jewell died of natural causes, at the age of 44 .

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