European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 08, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday septembers 1995 us. The stars and stripes Page 9 at d Washington a a Day after White separatist Randy Weaver levelled a Volley of charges against them top Law enforcement officials thursday defended their actions in the shootout that killed Weaver s wife and son and denied that he was entrapped into Selling illegal firearms. The director of the be Der a i Bureau of alcohol tobacco and firearms in Testi Mony prepared for a sen ate hearing thursday said that Weaver was Targ Tecl for investigation Only because he offered to sell illegal firearms to an informant and that at agents did not entrap him into doing a Young boy is dead his Mother is dead three Young people Are without a Mother at director John Magaw said referring to Weaver s family Mem Bers. Should any criminal Case justify these consequences of course not. But it was or. Weaver s actions that set this into play. The investigation of or. Weaver was opened Only after he offered to Supply illegal firearms to our informant Magaw said. At did not entrap or. Weaver. Hews not induced by me government to commit the offence but was predispose to do so. In fact or Weaver volunteered to violate the Law and his association wit the informer provided him the opportune a .-.i.-.1 v in october 1989, Weaver sold two sawed off shotguns to an at undercover informant and then he failed to show up for his trial. He testified at a Senate subcommittee hearing wednesday that he sold the guns because his family needed the $450 profit from the trans action a a . " if i had it to do Over again knowing what i know now i would make different choices Weaver told the senators. I would come Down from the Mountain for is actions in shootout White separatist Randy Weaver shows a Model of his Idaho property and the door from his Cabin with Bullet holes in the window As he testifies wednesday to a Senate panel. The court but he added i did not cause Federal agents to violate the oath of their at the Justice department attorney general Janet Reno said the Fri director has done much to improve the inter Nal Workings and rules of his Agency since the 11-Day standoff in August 1992 in Ruby Ridge Idaho revealed flaws. Reno told reporters the situation at Ruby Ridge happened under the past administration. I m so proud of the Steps that Fri director Louis j. Freeh has taken since he took like the at the Fri is under pres sure for its conduct at Weaver s Mountaintop Cabin at Ruby Ridge. The Justice department recently opened an investigation into allegations that High level Fri officials engaged in a Fri officials including Larry Potts the for Mer Deputy director have been sus Pended with pay. Sympathetic senators rarely challenged the veracity of Weaver s allegations Dur ing the opening Day of hearings wednes Day into the standoff that also left Dep Uty . Marshal William Degan dead. High ranking Law enforcement officials had issued death warrants against his family Weaver asserted. He said that an Fri sniper deliberately shot his wife and that later there was a cover up of what really happened at his Home. Ruby Ridge has become a Symbol both in Congress and across the country of concerns that Federal Law enforce ment has used excessive Force. Sen. Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin the senior Democrat on the Senate judicial subcommittee said the shootings my a sad chapter in the history of american Law officials maintain that Federal prosecutors already were investigating Weaver for possible involvement in bombings linked to a while separatist group / " ". ". Weaver was not some innocent Guy inthe Woods minding his own business said a Law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity. Officials of the Fri and the us. Marshals service arc expected to be wit Nesses at later hearings which Are being chaired by gop presidential hopeful sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania Law enforcement officials previously have said that their agencies actions at the site were wrong and in some cases illegal but that none of Weaver s family was killed intentionally without admit Ting wrongdoing the Federal government recently paid the Weaver family $3.1 Mil lion to Settle its claims. I Weaver tried to explain his views on the separation of races and so called zionist control of government. Senators arid even Weaver s own lawyer denounced his beliefs As extremist. I m not a hateful racist As most peo ple understand it Weaver said. "1 be Lieve that if there is separation of races scripturally speaking that s what i b Lieve is right. Weaver wiped away tears As he spoke of watching his fatally wounded wife Vicki fall to the floor of the Weaver Cabin with their 10-month-old child still clutched in her Amis. Personal Loans up to $10,000new car Loans used car Loans share secured and More be approved in just 30 minutes and pick up your Check within the hour a
