Waco Hearings - DAY 8
Waco Hearings - DAY 8
WACO HEARINGS: 10:00AM - - Master Number 10997 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of Day #9's opening statements and the questioning of the eighteenth group of panelists. They are: Jeffery Jamar; FBI Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio office and overall FBI Commander at Waco, Dick Rogers; Assistant Special In Charge and leader of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, Edward S.G. Dennis Jr.; Former US Attorney in Pennsylvania and former Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Criminal Division during Waco, RJ Craig; member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and a tank driver at Waco, James Magee; member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team who prevented Ruth Rittle from reentering the Mount Carmel compound, John Morrison; member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and Byron Sage; FBI Supervisor Special Resident Agent In Charge at the Austin office and lead negotiator during the 51-day standoff. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelists from Representatives: Schiff, Scott Buyer and Jackson-Lee. 09:59:27 Fresh footage immediately begins by showing the Congressional Sub-Committee Chamber in recess. 10:14:16 Chairman Zeliff reconvenes the hearings beginning Day #9. 10:15:00 Chairman Zeliff begins his opening statement. 10:21:09 Congressman McCollum begins his opening statement. 10:26:06 Congressman Schumer begins his opening statement. 10:35:10 Chairman Zeliff comments on the portion of Congressman Schumer's opening statement concerning the creditability of law enforcement. He then introduces the eighteenth group of panelists. They are: Jeffery Jamar; FBI Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio office and overall FBI Commander at Waco, Dick Rogers; Assistant Special In Charge and leader of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, Edward S.G. Dennis Jr.; Former US Attorney in Pennsylvania and former Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Criminal Division during Waco, RJ Craig; member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team who prevented Ruth Rittle from reentering the Mount Carmel compound, James Magee; FBI Special Agent and a tank driver at Waco, John Morrison; member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and Byron Sage; FBI Supervisor Special Resident Agent In Charge at the Austin office and lead negotiator during the 51-day standoff. Chairman Zeliff swears the panelists in. 10:37:24 Congressman Schiff begins his time by making several statements concerning what has been learnt thus fare in the hearings. He then asks the panelists if any of them knows of the President's involvement in Waco. Agent Jamar replies that no field agent was in a position to know such things. Rep. Schiff next describes the gas insertion and gas contingency plans, and then asks Mr. Jamar if his summations are correct. He replies yes, and is then asked if the FBI expected the gas insertion tank to be fired upon. Mr. Jamar replies yes, but adds the impute he received from Mr. Clarke and Potts relieved his concern. Congressman Schiff then asks how long it took to go from Plan A to Plan B. Mr. Rogers answers that almost immediately the gas insertion tank was under fire. Continuing on he assets that before Plan B commenced he radioed other posts to confirm the tank was under fire, and that the total lapse of time was about four minutes. 10:44:45 Congressman Scott begins his time by asking the panelists if any of them know of an insistence where CS-Gas has caused death or long term injury. No panelist replies. Turning then to Mr. Dennis, Rep. Scott asks if he made a report following Waco. He replies yes, and is then asked if he believes the fire was set from within the compound. Mr. Dennis replies yes. Keeping with Mr. Dennis, Congressman Scott asks if he is familiar with what happened at the Davidians' criminal trial. He answers no. Mr. Dennis is then asked if having firefighters on site would have made a difference. He answers that because of the winds on April 19th and the fact that excellerants were used on the fire, no. Congressman Scott then asks if the FBI consulted behaviorists or cult experts to determine the actions of the Davidian women and children. Mr. Jamar replies behaviorists were consulted, but not cult experts. 10:49:46 Congressman Buyer begins his time by stating he has reviewed the negotiation tapes. He then asks Mr. Jamar if telling Koresh to write the Seven Seals was just a ruse to cover-up the fact that April 19th was "D-Day." He replies no, and then reasserts his previous testimony concerning how negotiations continued up until the day of the second raid. He then reads an excerpt from the negotiations concerning the possibility Koresh may have been writing the Seven Seals. 10:56:18 Congresswoman Jackson-Lee begins her time by making several statements concerning the taking of responsibility for the events at Waco. She then asks Mr. Jamar when negotiations stalled. He replies about March 20th. Pressing the issue, Rep. Jackson-Lee asks if the intent to negotiate was also lost on that date. Mr. Jamar replies by stating that Agent Sage asked for 6-hours on April 19th for Koresh to produce any part of his manuscript, and nothing was sent out from Koresh. Turning then to Agent Magee, Congresswoman Jackson-Lee asks if he saved Ruth Rittle, and if she is alive today. He answer yes, and is then asked what her reaction was when she was saved. Agent Magee replies first by paying tribute to the four ATF Agents who was killed, and then 11:01:42 TIME OUT.