What roles did Reno and FBI Director Louis Freeh play?
The standoff was already under way when Reno took office, and she had been on the job less than five weeks when she approved the FBI’s proposal to use tear gas to flush out the Davidians and break the siege. Reno, who has said she made clear to the FBI her concern that nothing be used that could ignite a fire, is coming under increasing attack on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott on Wednesday became the highest-ranking congressional leader to call for her resignation over the escalating controversy. Freeh, who didn’t take the helm of the FBI until four months after the standoff ended, has escaped much of the criticism. Q: Why did this come to light now? A: Because of inquiries by documentary filmmakers, reporters and lawyers for surviving Branch Davidians and relatives of the dead who are going to court next month in their longstanding lawsuit that the government was responsible for the deaths. Use of the potentially incendiary tear gas was first reported by The Dallas Mo
