-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Reno Deposed in Waco Case By Michelle Mittelstadt Associated Press Writer Tuesday, March 28, 2000; 8:48 p.m. EST WASHINGTON �� Attorney General Janet Reno testified Tuesday that she never gave approval for tanks to demolish the Branch Davidians' compound near Waco, Texas � and does not believe the FBI intentionally did so � say lawyers for the sect who deposed her for their wrongful-death lawsuit against the government. But the Davidians' lead counsel, emerging from the rare deposition of an attorney general, said Reno was less than forthcoming in discussing whether the FBI intended to dismantle the complex during its tear-gassing operation � an interpretation rejected by Reno's aides. "The only issue where we felt that she was less than candid was on the demolition," Houston lawyer Michael Caddell said outside the Justice Department. "The problem that she's got is she testified to Congress in 1995 that the damage done to the building was the result of tear-gas insertion. And I think it's very difficult for her to back off of that testimony." U.S. Attorney Michael Bradford of Texas, one of five Justice lawyers who flanked Reno at the two-hour deposition, disputed Caddell's claim. "We would strongly disagree with his interpretation," he said. "She was forthcoming and candid and answered all the questions. Her testimony will speak for itself, but it was consistent throughout the deposition with her past testimony," said Bradford, who is one of the government's chief defenders in the Davidian litigation. For Reno, Waco has been a never-ending crisis. The deadly standoff between the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement began in February 1993 � just weeks before Reno took office � with a shootout as Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve weapons warrants on Davidian leader David Koresh. Four agents and six Davidians died. That was followed by a 51-day siege, led by the FBI, that ended in a fiery inferno on April 19, 1993. Koresh and about 80 followers died, some from the fire, others from gunshot wounds. The government insists they died by their own hand. A day later, Reno went on television to accept responsibility � an act that earned her widespread acclaim. Although congressional hearings that year on Waco were overwhelmingly supportive of Reno, her decision to use tear gas was sharply questioned during hearings in 1995, the first year the Republicans controlled Congress. And then the issue faded largely from view until last August, when the government was forced to acknowledge that the FBI had used potentially incendiary tear gas canisters despite Reno's orders to the contrary. Reno acknowledged Tuesday that the operations plan she approved did not authorize the use of pyrotechnic tear gas, flash-bang devices inside the Davidians' Mount Carmel retreat, or building demolition, Caddell said. "She also testified she was never told ... that there would be no plan to fight a fire at Mount Carmel should one develop," he said. The plaintiffs, whose suit against the government heads to trial in mid-May, contend the FBI's on-scene commanders ordered the dismantling of the Davidians' complex several hours into the operation � in defiance of the Reno-approved plan that permitted such destruction only after 48 hours if the tear-gassing proved unsuccessful. While Reno refused to acknowledge deliberate demolition occurred, Caddell said she did concede that the on-scene commanders would have been required to consult with FBI leadership in Washington before speeding up the plan � which didn't occur. Bradford declined to discuss Reno's testimony, saying the federal district judge presiding over the case ordered depositions sealed for 30 days. "The judge has expressed a fairly strong preference that we not get into a public debate over depositions, so I do not want to go point-by-point through the deposition," he said. Caddell said he will release both Reno's deposition and a videotape of the proceeding in 30 days. The attorney said he does not hold Reno responsible for any negligence at Waco. But he is using his depositions with Reno and other high-ranking FBI officials to buttress his contention that the FBI's on-scene commanders � special agent in charge Jeffrey Jamar and Hostage Rescue Team leader Richard Rogers � deviated from the approved operations plan by escalating the tear-gas insertion and destroying the building. He also faults Jamar's decision to hold back fire trucks at a checkpoint while the building was consumed by flames. Jamar told Congress in 1995 that he kept the fire trucks at bay for fear firefighters might be shot. The government contends any actions Jamar or Rogers took that day fell within their discretionary authority. Also Tuesday, a federal judge in Waco granted a plaintiffs' request to dismiss their part of a case against an FBI sharpshooter. U.S. District Judge Walter Smith said the motion to dismiss the case against FBI sharpshooter Lon Horiuchi because of insufficient evidence "has merit and should be granted." Horiuchi was the only named defendant in the Davidians' lawsuit. � Copyright 2000 The Associated Press ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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