Monday, October 16, 2000
Committee Activities in Past Congresses: Waco Investigation

Minority Views on the Waco Investigation Report

As detailed in the minority views, the Committee’s 13-month investigation of Waco was unnecessary, expensive, and fruitless. Although the majority report spans 100 pages and includes nearly 1,400 pages of documentary exhibits, it contributes virtually nothing to the public’s understanding of Waco. Many of the report’s findings duplicate those of Senator Danforth’s investigation. In an interim report issued July 21, 2000, as well as in a final report issued November 8, 2000, Senator Danforth concluded that government agents did not cause or contribute to the fire that consumed the Branch Davidian compound on April 19, 1993, did not direct gunfire at the Branch Davidians on April 19, 1993, and did not unlawfully employ U.S. armed forces at any time during the standoff. To the extent the majority report deviates from Senator Danforth’s findings, it consists largely of unsupported allegations of wrongdoing by the Attorney General and Justice Department officials.