Waco Hearings - DAY 10
Waco Hearings - DAY 10
WACO HEARINGS: 10:45 - 11:57AM Master Number 11007 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of the questioning of panelist Attorney General, Janet Reno. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelist from the following Representatives: McCollum, Schumer, Zeliff, Collins, Ros-Lehtinen, Conyers, Hyde and Scott. 10:54:18 Old footage from Master Number 11006 shows Attorney General Reno making her opening statement. 10:57:18 Fresh footage shows Attorney General Reno making her opening statement. 11:01:41 Chairman McCollum begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno had she evidence that Koresh was writing his Seven Seals would the raid have proceeded. She replies Koresh repeatedly lied about surrendering, and asserts religious experts concluded the promise to be a delaying technique. Continuing on, Attorney General Reno states that as the siege continued, its' perimeter weakened and the chance for a Davidian breakout heightened. Pressing the issue, Congressman McCollum asks had physical evidence been produced proving Koresh was in fact writing, would the raid have been halted. Attorney General Reno replies yes, and is then asked, after listening to a summation of previous testimony, why she didn't attempt to clear up outstanding questions. She replies by stating she reviewed many reports and spoke with experts and the head negotiator before making, which she still contends was appropriate, the decision to proceed. 11:08:55 Congressman Schumer begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if the President changed any material aspect of the April 19th plan. She replies no, and is then asked if the President, or any of his representatives, attempted to speed the implementation of the April 19th plan. Attorney General Reno replies no. Congressman Schumer then asks of the President's role in the design and approval of the plan. Attorney General Reno replies she advised the President of it, and upon asking a few questions, stated he would support her decision. Continuing on, Attorney General Reno states that on the morning of the 19th she received a call from the President concerning the plan, and asserts he remained supportive of her decision. Rep. Schumer then asks how was the fact that the Davidians were a religious cult weighed in terms of waiting them out. Attorney General Reno replies by describing how she theoretically placed her mother and grand niece into a situation where they would be exposed to the gas in order to come to terms with her decision. Continuing on, she asserts Doctor Salem addressed her concerns after he consulted with a pediatrician. Attorney General Reno then states she weighed issues such as perimeter security, outside threats, food and water provisions and gas alternatives before approving the gas insertion plan. 11:20:47 Congressman Zeliff begins his time by referencing to a memo from the Chief of Staff to the President, an except of which reads, "[Acting Attorney General Gersen] assured me that no significant action would be taken without White House approval." He then asks Attorney General Reno if having the President's backing is the same as having his approval. She replies by stating the situation was looked at from the perspective of the "law enforcement arena." Pressing the issue, Rep. Zeliff inquires about a memo from Roger Altman to Secretary Bentsen. Attorney General Reno replies by stating the reason the President had asked to be kept informed about the situation was because he did not know the Acting Attorney General and was unsure of his practices. She then states the Congress and President should not have, and did not, interfere with the law enforcement at Waco. Continuing on, Attorney General Reno states that the military equipment that was used at Waco was disarmed, therefore technically not military grade, and served the purpose of protecting FBI Agents. 11:30:38 Congresswoman Collins begins her time by presenting the statement made by the President on April 20th into the record. She then asks Attorney General Reno to what degree should various weapons be used against crimes. She replies by stating tanks were used at Waco due to the kind of ammunition Koresh had at his disposal. Rep. Collins then states that Congressman Zeliff's assertion that "smoking guns" existed at Waco goes against his previous statements made to the press. She then yields her time. 11:35:35 Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen begins her time by stating that it concerns her that the ATF lied about the drug nexus connection. She then asks Attorney General Reno if such misrepresentation undermines law enforcement and Congress's right to control the military's budget. She replies by stating she is very supportive of the Posse Comitatus Act. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen then asks if the ATF's misuse of authority has been investigated. Attorney General Reno replies no, and is then asked if Congress should tighten its' guidelines on this issue of military support to law enforcement via drug connections. Attorneys General Reno answers current laws are fine. 11:40:26 Congressman Conyers begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if she received attitude about "shouldering" the responsible of Waco by herself because she was a woman. She replies people have always been supportive of her. Rep. Conyers then states to Attorney General Reno that she is in a unique position in history to make long needed reforms, and then asks her about the ATF's loss of surprise. She replies that she hasn't reviewed all the material surrounding March 28th, but asserts the resulting affect was adverse. Rep. Conyers then yields his remaining time. 11:44:55 Congressman Hyde begins his time by reading an excerpt from the Justice Department Report. He then asks Attorney General Reno who convinced her to go ahead with the gas insertion plan, and why wasn't the briefing read. She replies by restating how she was informed by various experts and had weighed their advice. Continuing on, she describes the April 14th meeting, and how a major topic of discussion was the fatigue of field agents. Interjecting, Congressman Hyde asks if it has been learnt that one Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) is not enough. Attorney General Reno replies no team could have replaced the Hostage Rescue Team, but asserts that since Waco FBI swat teams have been strengthen to be able to supplement the HRTs. Continuing on, Attorney General Reno states no one person changed her mind. 11:53:26 Congressman Scott begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if the President was correct in directing all questions about the siege to her on April 19th. She replies by stating that the President did everything right. 11:56:26 TIME OUT.