Waco Hearings - DAY 1
Waco Hearings - DAY 1
WACO HEARINGS: 11:30-1:00 AM - Master Number 10905 - INTRODUCTION: The following Waco Hearing footage consists of questioning of the first group of panelists. The panelists selected for questioning were Mr. Reavis and Mr. Yon. The questioning Representatives were Zeliff (chairman), Thurman, McCollum, Schumer, Collins, Taylor and Conyers. At 14:45:53 Zeliff relinquishes leadership thanks the first panel and relinquishes his leadership to Rep. McCollum who then introduces the second group of panelists. 13:59:03 - 14:09:06 The Sub-Committee Chamber is shown in recess. 14:09:07 Chairman Zeliff calls the Hearings back to order, and announces that the questioning of the panelists will begin. Zeliff questions Reavis. He asks, what is the most important thing that can come out of the hearings. Reavis states that it is the increased declassification of Waco documents. Zeliff then questions Yon about his questioning of BD members following the standoff and to detail how his information was gathered. 14:15:36 Rep. Thurman asks Reavis to specifically name the documents he wishes to become declassified and Reavis names the interviews made with the Texas Rangers. Rep. Thurman asks Yon to respond to Reavis' comments. Yon defends the slow declassification of documents, pointing out the backlog of orders at the Freedom of Information Act Office. Rep. Thurman then asks Reavis to contrast his personal findings against other Waco reporters. Reavis responds by stating that he no competitors for the Waco story after Mount Carmel burnt down, so it is difficult to answer the question. Congressman Thurman asks Yon about allegations that Koresh had sex with under aged girls. Mr. Yon sites that in an interview with a Waco newspaper reporter, a former Branch Davidian member stated that a 14 year old girl had given birth to one of David Koresh's children. 14:21:46 Rep. McCollum asks Yon about ATF Officers carrying guns in the helicopters. Mr. Yon states findings from his interviews. Rep. McCollum then asks Mr. Reavis about the possibility BD members could have surrendered. His second question concerned the fire. Mr. Reavis states he believed Koresh may have thought he had an agreement with officials, and may have thought surrender could have been an option. 14:26:47 Congressman Schumer asks Mr. Yon if he had read Mr. Reavis's book. He says he has not. Rep. Schumer asks Yon to comment on the book's accuracy. Mr. Yon states the conclusions have mixed accuracy. Holding up a machine gun, Congressman Schumer then asks Mr. Yon about reports of illegal weapons at the compound? 14:30:10 Congressman Collins asks Yon about the possibility that "friendly fire" may have killed the four ATF Agents. Mr. Yon states that laboratory testing rules that possibility out. Rep. Collins then asks Yon about Koresh having sex with minors with their parents approval, but he states it would be inappropriate for him to reply. She then asks him about illegal guns at the compound. Mr. Yon states laboratory testing determined the guns were illegal. 14:34:40 Congressman Taylor asks a series of questions to Reavis attempting to prove Koresh lead an extremist religious organization, and later asks him how Koresh got ride of former Branch Davidian leader, George Rotten. Mr. Reavis states that Koresh inherited the religion, but manipulated its' teachings. He goes on to recount events that detail how the change of power was passed in the Branch Davidian religion. 14:38:07 Congressman Conyers questions the accuracy of Mr. Reavis's book. Mr. Reavis's confirms his belief. Rep. Conyers then asks. Mr. Yon about the validity of the ATF search warrant. Mr. Yon states that the warrant was completely valid, because it exceeded the ATF's jurisdiction. 14:45:53 Chairman Zeliff thanks the panel for their time, and invites the second panel to come forward. He states that chairmanship will switch to Rep. McCollum, who then introduces the second panel. They are Gerald Goldstein, Roger Duchamp, Henry McMahon , David Thibideaux and Carrie Jewel. 14:47:53 Congressman Barr asks Mr. Thibideaux to describe the Mount Carmel compound and the personal habits of David Koresh. Mr. Thibideaux responds. Congressman Barr then asks about the search warrant, the issue of illegal weapons, and the possible presence of a methamphetime lab at Mount Carmel. Mr. Thibideaux describes his experience at the compound, and then states he believed the warrant to have been lengthy and wordy. He then comments on the weapons that were at Mount Camel, but states there was never a methamphetime at the site. Rep. Barr then asks Mr. Thibideaux if he knows what a "mag bag" is? Mr. Thibideaux states it was a car restoration garage a distance from Mount Carmel. Rep. Barr switches panelists and asks Mr. Goldstein about the search warrant. 15:01:24 TAPE OUT.