Excerpts From Hearing Span Varied Emotions

Following are excerpts from the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing into the fiery conclusion of the standoff between the Branch Davidian cult and federal law enforcement agencies:

Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.): This is a profound disgrace, . . . and you did the right thing in offering to resign. You did exactly the right thing. . . . And now I’d like you to know that there is at least one member in the Congress that isn’t going to rationalize the death of two dozen children that weren’t cultists. They weren’t nuts. They weren’t criminals. . . . I’ve read so many conflicting rationales about this, that it’s absolutely embarrassing.

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno: I haven’t tried to rationalize the deaths of children. I feel more strongly about it than you will ever know. But I have neither tried to rationalize the deaths of four ATF agents, and I will not walk away from a compound where ATF agents had been killed by people who knew they were agents. . . .

But most of all, congressman, I will not engage in recrimination. I will look to the future and try to learn everything I can from this situation to avoid tragedies such as this in the future. . . .

I became convinced that short of allowing David Koresh to go free, he was not coming out voluntarily. Given that unacceptable result and in light of the fact that he was such a dangerous criminal, allowing the status quo to remain was not going to lead to an ultimate peaceful resolution and eliminate any risk to the safety of the innocent children in the compound, the public at large, or the government agents at the scene. On the contrary, the passage of time only increased the likelihood of incidents and possible injuries and attendant injuries and harm.

Rep. Jack Brooks (D-Tex.): Now I don’t relish playing omniscient second-guesser when there are still facts to be ascertained. . . . What I care about is whether we have in place in our federal enforcement agencies the capability and, yes, the creativity to deal with the increasingly disturbing situation of terrorism, whether in the high office towers of our urban centers, or in small, entrenched pockets of alienated citizens who operate separate and apart from a larger society.

Reno: The incident at Waco ended tragically for all involved. I have thought every day since about--since April 19 about what I might have done differently. I only hope we can work together to make sure that I never have to make such a decision again.

Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr. (R-N.Y.): Certainly mistakes are made. But most often law enforcement in this country is carried out with great skill and professionalism. Nevertheless, when a high-profile episode such as the Branch Davidian stand-off occurs, and results in what appears to have been an unnecessary loss of life, America asks why. . . .

Rep. James F. Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.): I think it is very plain that the function of this hearing should not be to second-guess the activities of either the FBI or the Department of Justice, nor should it be to micromanage either of these agencies. I also think it is important that everybody realize that no one on this committee holds anyone but David Koresh responsible for the tragic deaths of those who died within that compound.