Waco Hearings - DAY 6
Waco Hearings - DAY 6
WACO HEARINGS: 9:00 - 10:30AM - Master Number 10963 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of Day #5 opening statements from Congressmen McCollun, Zeliff and Schumer and Congresswoman Thurman, in addition to, the introduction of the thirteenth group of panelists. The panelists are: Peter Smerick; former FBI Special Agent, Jim Cavanaugn; ATF Special Agent who was present at Waco on February 28th and who initially began negotiations with the Davidians, Byron Sage; Supervisor Special Resident Agent In Charge at the Austin office and lead negotiator during the 51-day standoff, Gary Nowster; Supervisor Special Agent at the FBI Academy at Quantico Army Base and Negotiations Supervisor at Waco, Jeffery Jamar; FBI Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio office and overall FBI Commander at Waco and Mr. Ronald McCarthy; former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelists from Representative Heineman and Schumer. 09:00:02 Fresh footage shows the Sub-Committee Chamber in recess. 09:23:15 Chairman McCollun brings the Sub-Committee Chamber to order beginning Day #6. 09:24:02 Chairman McCollun begins his opening statement. 09:31:58 Congresswoman Thurman begins her opening statement. 09:36:10 Congressman Zeliff begins his opening statement. 09:40:10 Congressman Schumer begins his opening statement. 09:45:55 Chairman McCollun interjects to state that thus far the evidence does support the conclusion that the ATF did not fire first, but asserts that such evidence is not definitive. 09:46:58 Chairman McCollun introduces the thirteenth group of panelists, and then swears them in. 09:49:17 Congressman Heineman begins his time by asking Agent Cavanaugn about the initial moments of the raid. He replies by first stating that the ATF did not fire first. Agent Cavanaugn then details how he witnessed ATF Agents being fired upon, how he knew that they were in trouble and how he called the compound asking for a cease fire. Continuing on, Agent Cavanaugn tells how he spoke to Mr. Schneider and eventually convinced him to call off the attack, but asserts that when ATF Agents tried to retrieve fallen agents the Davidians opened fire a second time. Congressman Heineman interjects to ask that two photographs be placed on display. One, which has been shown before, features ATF Agents in a defensive position around cars outside the compound's front door. The second shows agents in a similar scene, but features two agents attempting to carry a wounded agent to safety. Agent Cavanaugn interjects stating that a reporter took the first photograph, and it depicts a time during the initial moments of the raid. The second, he asserts, was taken about three hours after the first. 09:57:50 Congressman Schumer begins his time by asking Agent Cavanaugn how he feels when he hears some on the congressional panel implying that the ATF did fire first. He replies that it sickens him, and then boldly reasserts that the ATF did not fire first. He is then asked if the claim that the Davidians acted in self-defense is at all creditable. He answers absolutely not. Continuing on, he states that Koresh began planning the ambush 45 minutes before agents arrived, and that the Davidians were firing through doors, windows and walls at ATF Agents who were struggling to find cover. Turning to Agent Jamar, Congressman Schumer asks if he overruled Mr. Zimmermann's surrender plan, or if he was ordered to do so by a "faceless Washington bureaucrat." He states that he made the decision in March. 10:02:04 TIME OUT.