Reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, To Video Evidence Secured From The FBI In The Waco Case

September 02, 1999

[Following is the comment of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, to Attorney General Janet Reno's decision ordering federal marshals to secure videotape evidence from the FBI in the Waco case, and to Reno's preference to order an independent inquiry. Leahy, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Aug. 26 had written to Reno urging that outside investigators -- not the FBI itself -- handle the probe. Leahy cited the contrast between the credibility and usefulness of the FBI's earlier Waco post-mortem with the bipartisan Ruby Ridge investigation conducted by the Senate Judiciary Committee.]

"The Attorney General did the right thing. She clearly is troubled by the fact that relevant information was kept from her before, and she is determined not to let that happen again.

"I continue to believe that an independent investigation is far preferable to the FBI investigating itself in this case, and I welcome indications that General Reno agrees. All eyes will be on how that will happen, and it is crucial that the investigation truly is independent in every way."