Waco Hearings - DAY 10
Waco Hearings - DAY 10
WACO HEARINGS: 2:55 - 3:59PM - Master Number 11011 - 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: Barr, Souder, Chabot, McCollum, Schumer, Scott, Barr, Watt and Hyde. 14:54:46 Old footage from Master Number 11010 shows Congressman Barr asking Attorney General Reno about policy changes. 14:59:21 Fresh footage shows Attorney General Reno responding to Congressman Barr's question concerning reforms. She replies by stating training and interagency cooperation has been enhanced. 15:00:33 Congressman Souder begins his time by making several statements concerning previous testimony. He then asserts that the evidence supporting the argument the raid proceeded because of concern for the children does not add up. Attorney General Reno replies that is correct, but then reasserts previous testimony concerning why the plan did in fact proceed. 15:08:40 Congressman Taylor begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if there is anything that she has seen, heard or read that justifies the killing of the four ATF Agents or the wounding of the additional 20 by Koresh and his followers. She replies no, and is then asked if FBI Agents take an oath to enforce all laws regardless of personal prejudice. Attorney General Reno replies yes, and is then asked if Koresh was above the law because of his religious beliefs. Attorney General Reno answers no. Rep. Taylor then inquires of the guilt the surviving Davidians take for the events at Waco. She replies the verdicts received by the Davidians assert their actions are inexcusable. 15:13:18 Congressman Chabot begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if a school bus of children was hijacked by the Davidians would the FBI has acted in the same manner as it did at Waco on April 19th. She answers yes had all other factors been the same as during the 51-day siege. Rep. Chabot then makes several remarks about Mr. Potts and Ruby Ridge before asking if approving Mr. Potts for a promotion sends the wrong message in terms of accountability. Attorney General Reno replies she has reviewed his role in the events at Waco, and found nothing improper. 15:18:48 Chairman McCollum begins his time by recounting Attorney General Reno's testimony relative to what motivated her to approve the raid. He then asserts that previous testimony does not collaborate her testimony. Continuing on, Rep. McCollum states to Attorney General Reno that it bothers him that she never meet with Mr. Dagaret to determine if more time could have been allocated to negotiations, and then asks her if she truly believed that the gas insertion tanks would not have been fired upon. Attorney General Reno replies by stating she was only pressured to approve the plan by the facts of the situation. Continuing on, she makes reference to the Hostage Rescue Team becoming fatigued, Koresh's tendency to manipulate and lie and how the conditions within the compound were not healthy for the Davidian children. Attorney General Reno then asserts that of course the FBI predicted the Davidians would fire on the tanks otherwise the armored vehicles would not have been used. 15:33:13 Congressman Schumer begins his time quoting several newspaper articles that assert Republicans intend to embarrass Attorney General Reno during her testimony. He then asks her if there is anything that has been learnt from the hearing that would make her question her decision on April 19th. She replies by stating she is assured many on the Majority would never attempt to humiliate her. Continuing on, Attorney General Reno asserts that she and her staff plan to review the hearings to insure there is nothing has been overlooked. 15:35:52 Congressman Scott begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if it was the FBI's intention to insert gas for a full 48-hours. She replies by stating how insertion was to have been very controlled. Rep. Scott then inquires if the fact that it is difficult to predict a person's reaction to CS-Gas was taken into consideration. Attorney General Reno answers yes, but adds the gas should have had a greater affect than it did. 15:38:25 Congressman Barr begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno why Captain Cook of the Texas Rangers was given Mr. Foster's telephone number at the White House by Texas Governor Richards. She answers she doesn't know. Rep. Barr then asks if Mr. Foster maintained a private Waco file. Again, Attorney General Reno replies no, and is next asked if she knows what might have happened to such a file if it existed. Attorney General Reno answers no. Congressman Barr then states it's odd that questions regarding Waco were directed at the White House. Attorney General Reno comments the issue has to do with the timing of events. Pressing the issue, Congressman Barr asks Attorney General Reno if she is aware of any involvement by Mr. Foster in the events surrounding Waco. She replies no, and is then asked had Mr. Foster maintained a Waco file and it disappeared, should there be an investigation to determine where it went. Attorney General Reno answers it would depend on the file. 15:44:29 Congressman Watt begins his time by discussing the seven recommendations the FBI made regarding Waco. He then asks if the additional training and personnel was made in support of the Exclusionary Rule. Attorney General Reno replies agents now are taught about constitutionality. Rep. Watt then asks what "swat" stands for. Attorney General Reno answers "special weapons and tactics" She is then asked what kind of training does the Hostage Rescue Team receive, and replies it, the Crisis Management and Swat Teams now work together to insure peaceful resolutions can be made in the future. 15:50:20 Congressman Hyde begins his time by retaliating against Congressman Schumer's reading of newspaper quotes. He then asks Attorney General Reno if it is true that she would have done nothing differently in hindsight of Waco. She replies by stating how she would have liked to bring in another Hostage Rescue Team in order to maintain the perimeter longer. Rep. Hyde then reads excerpts from Mr. Smerick's memo as contained in the Justice Report, and then asks why wasn't more attention made of the behavior scientists' recommendations. Attorney General Reno replies by stating many of Mr. Smerick's remarks were made in early March, and then reads experts from the negotiation transcripts, which present information contrasting Mr. Smerick's perspective. 15:56:44 TIME OUT.