Waco Hearings - DAY 7
Waco Hearings - DAY 7
WACO HEARINGS: 1:15 - 1:55AM - Master Number 10982 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of the questioning of the fifteenth group of panelists. They are: Larry Potts; Former Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigation Division, Jeffery Jamar; FBI Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio office and overall FBI Commander at Waco, Byron Sage; FBI Supervisor Special Resident Agent In Charge at the Austin office and lead negotiator during the 51-day standoff, Anthony Bets; FBI Unit Chief of Domestic Terrorism and CS-Gas researcher for the Attorney General, Dick Rogers; FBI Special In Charge and Leader of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and Doctor Harry Salem; Chief Scientists for Life Sciences at the US Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelists from Representatives: McCollum, Taylor, Buyer and Barr. 13:15:01 Old footage from Master Number 10981 shows Congressman McCollum asking Mr. Rogers if FBI Agents had grown tired by the end of the siege. 13:19:50 Fresh footage shows Congressman Taylor asking the panelists if Koresh used his followers as human shields. Agent Sage replies yes. Rep. Taylor then makes several unpointed statements before asking the panelists if there is anything they have seen, heard or read which justifies the killing of the four ATF Agents and the wounding of the additional 20. All reply no. 13:23:50 Congressman Buyer begins his time by asking Agent Jamar what physically happened to the letter that was written by Koresh which was brought from the compound by Mr. Dagaret. He replies it was faxed to Washington. Congressman Buyer then makes several comments about the negotiation audiotapes, and then asks Agent Sage if negotiators were briefed about developments heard via surveillance taps. He replies there were daily briefings, in addition to, incident reports that would be filed if significant developments arose during the day. Turning then to Mr. Potts, Rep. Buyer asks if Mr. Hubbell requested that he, or the President, approve any shifts in negotiations and if the President knew the siege was scheduled to end through the insertion of CS-Gas. He replies no. 13:29:02 Congressman Barr begins his time by asking Mr. Potts if a document in question is part of the operations plan. He replies no. Rep. Barr then asks Doctor Salem if CS-Gas can cause symptoms similar to asphyxia. He replies yes, adding if levels are high. Doctor Salem is then asked if chemicals resulting from the fire and CS-Gas can combine together to create toxic substances. He replies yes, and is then asked if such chemicals could have prohibited individuals from exiting the compound. He replies yes. 13:35:00 Congressman McCollum begins his time by stating Doctor Salem has not been published on the issue of CS-Gas. He then asks Mr. Rogers if FBI Agents could have stayed on the scene for additional weeks without becoming tired. He replies physically yes, but adds their skills would have been degraded. Pressing the issue, Congressman McCollum inquires how long troops could have lasted. He replies a few more weeks. Turning then to Mr. Potts, Rep. McCollum asks if he thought it was probable the Davidians would fire on the gas insertion tank. He replies yes, and then states changes were made to significantly reduce that risk. Rep. McCollum then asks Agent Sage if he conveyed the full message of April 14th's developments to Mr. Hubbell concerning the Dagaret and Zimmermann plan as it related Koresh's change in attitude. He replies all developments were discussed, and then reasserts how the plan has been "blown way out of proportion." Agent Jamar adds that the FBI concluded the plan as being insincere after consulting with outside experts. 13:47:10 Chairman Zeliff recesses the hearings for the day after hearing a few points of inquiry. 13:48:02 The Sub-Committee Chamber is shown in recess. 13:51:22 TIME OUT.