Waco Hearings - DAY 10
Waco Hearings - DAY 10
WACO HEARINGS: 5:04 - 5:59PM - Master Number 11014 - 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: Buyer, Jackson-Lee, Clinger, Coble, Mica, Ehrlich, Bono, Chabot, Taylor, Shadegg and Schumer. 17:03:47 Fresh footage immediately begins by showing Congressman Buyer asking Attorney General Reno if she viewed the events of April 19th as a hostage or barricade situation. She replies a barricade situation. Pressing the issue, Rep. Buyer states it looked more like an arrest. Attorney General Reno replies by asserting Waco was not a military operation. Congressman Buyer then reads an excerpt from a report, which details how various efforts undermined the Waco operation. He then asserts that if he was President he would want to be kept informed before telling the Attorney General Reno she did nothing wrong in her handling of Waco. She responds by stating she was alerted to the tensions that existed between FBI Agents, and that efforts are being made to insure tactical and negotiation teams work better together. 17:11:12 Congresswoman Jackson-Lee begins her time by asking Attorney General Reno if upholding the Exclusionary Rule is important. She replies yes, and is then asked if the FBI plans to consult more experts in the future to insure constitutionality is protected. She replies yes, and is then asked about the strengthening of FBI Swat Teams, the military's role in Waco and whether or not it was a good idea to have allowed lawyers access to the compound. Attorney General Reno replies by stating the military was not directly involved in Waco, experts will be consulted and the Hostage Rescue and Swat Teams are becoming interchangeable. 17:19:21 Congressman Clinger begins his time by making a series of statements about the hearings. He then asks Attorney General Reno if the decision to proceed at Waco should have been made by the President. She replies by stating law enforcement is a "quasi judicial function" that needs to act independently of the President and Congress. Pressing the issue, Rep. Clinger asks if communication in a situation would be better if all agents reported to a single leader. Attorney General Reno replies that whenever a better checks and balance system is available that is a good thing. 17:24:35 Congressman Coble begins his time by stating Secretary Bentsen's acted "very cavalier" during his testimony when questioned about why he didn't take a more active role in Waco after the FBI assumed control. He then asserts that the bulldozing of Mount Carmel should not have taken place after the fire since it destroyed evidence. Attorney General Reno responds the bulldozing occurred after the site investigation was completed, and then asserts that unless the site remained secure, any evidence found after the fact would not have been creditable. She then states greater communication now exists between Justice and Treasury. 17:29:24 Congressman Mica begins his time by restating how the Majority was delayed in receiving the Briefing Report. He then asks Attorney General Reno if CS-Gas reports such as Amnesty International's were provided to her. She replies by asserting that Justice did everything possible to provide information to the hearings. Rep. Mica then inquires what Doctor Salem mentioned about the affects of CS-Gas on children. Attorney General Reno answers by restating that Justice did everything they could to provide records. Interjecting, Chairman McCollum asserts that Justice did a fine job in providing information, and adds the Briefing Report was given, but amongst a much larger report. Attorney General Reno responds by asserting she received the Briefing Report on April 12th, and immediately had questions about the safety of children, therefore, she consulted Doctor Salem. Continuing on, she states the Amnesty International report does not specify if CS or CN Gas was used. 17:36:58 Congressman Ehrlich begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if Doctor Salem consulted with a pediatrician. She replies yes. Rep. Ehrlich then yields his time. 17:37:40 Congressman Bono begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if Doctor Salem relied on the conclusions of the British experts. She replies she doesn't know exactly where his information derived from, but asserts that her decision was based on several sources. Congressman Bono then asserts, after a lengthy lecture on the affects of CS-Gas that it is troubling so little information was consulted pertaining to the affects of CS-Gas. Attorney General Reno replies by stating the foremost experts on the subject were consulted, and then asserts to Congressman Bono that had he know such information before, why didn't he bring it up with the experts when they were testifying. 17:43:31 Congressman Chabot begins his time by asking Attorney General Reno if she was aware that the school bus area was intentionally blocked during the April 19th raid. She replies no, and is then asked if FBI Agents failed to acknowledge the Davidians' religious beliefs and tendencies. Attorney General Reno replies by stating the gas was not effective due to the wind conditions on April 19th. Rep. Chabot then inquires if the Davidians didn't come out because the gas was not intense enough. Attorney General Reno replies yes, and is then asked if the President was told that gas insertion would escalate if the tanks were fired upon. She answers yes. 17:48:54 Congressman Taylor begins his time by recounting previous testimony before asserting that David Koresh is responsible for the killing and wounding of the ATF Agents and for the murder of his followers. Continuing on, Congressman Taylor states how additional witnesses should have been brought to testify against Koresh in the hearings. He then makes several general statements about law enforcement. 17:53:20 Congressman Shadegg begins his time by making statements about the cutting of the telephone line to the compound. He then asserts to Attorney General Reno that the destruction of the gym placed the Davidian children in harm, and states that it is frustrating that closure on this issue can not be made. She replies by stating she shares his frustration and will review the information. Rep. Shadegg then asserts to Attorney General Reno the fact Koresh was not allowed to speak with Agent Rodriguez during negotiations, even though he promised to release a 6-year old child, conflicts with her testimony about wanting to save the Davidian children at all cost. She replies by stating it is important to remember why Agent Rodriguez was not allowed to speak with Koresh. 17:58:40 Congressman Schumer begins his time by stating 17:59:15 TIME OUT.