From: Ted Drude <[t--dr--e] at [delphi.com]>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Freeh admits coverup in Ruby Ridge case
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 95 10:04:41 -0500

Freeh says coverup allegations "shocking" - Post
 
    WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuter) - FBI Director Louis Freeh Tuesday called
coverup allegations against FBI agents in the deadly 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge,
Idaho, "shocking and grievous" and pledged swift action to restore confidence in
the bureau.
    Freeh told the Washington Post in an interview published in Wednesday's
editions that the allegations were the most serious that could be leveled
against law enforcement agents.
    The wife of white separatist Randy Weaver, his 14-year-old son and a federal
marshal were killed in the August 1992 siege, which turned deadly after FBI
officials approved an unprecedented "shoot on sight" policy.
    The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into allegations
that FBI agents lied or destroyed papers during internal inquiries into the
standoff with Weaver.
    The incident has also resulted in the suspension or transfer of several FBI
officials, including Larry Potts, Freeh's deputy, who supervised the standoff.
    "There is nothing more shocking or more grievous than for one who is charged
with obtaining the facts fairly to be alleged to have corrupted that process and
to have either obstructed justice or destroyed evidence or committed perjury,"
Freeh told the Post.
    "It goes to the very heart of the entire FBI system and the judicial
system," he said.
    The paper said Freeh was apparently personally upset that an earlier FBI
review of the bureau's role in the siege was incomplete and seriously "flawed."
    "It's an extremely distressing and painful personal situation," he said.
"But that distress pales in comparison to the anger and sense of frustration
that something like this could happen."
    Freeh pledged "absolutely swift and firm action" to restore public
confidence in the bureau.
    The federal government last week agreed to pay the family of Weaver's wife
more than $3 million to settle a lawsuit against the government.
    In the interview, Freeh also said he was missing critical information when
he decided in January to mete out mild discipline to a dozen FBI officials,
including Larry Potts, whom he later promoted to be his deputy.
    "Given the facts we now have, I would not have made that decision," Freeh
told the Post.
    As a result of the renewed investigation into the incident, Freeh demoted
Potts July 14 and then suspended him indefinitely Aug. 11.