Posted on 12/12/2002 12:25:01 PM PST by freeeee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Jeb Bush and the Clemency Board restored the civil rights Thursday of the FBI agent convicted of destroying records while investigating the agency's role in the deadly 1992 shootout at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.
E. Michael Kahoe, a former head of the FBI's violent crime and major offenders section, pleaded guilty in 1997 to obstruction of justice for ordering the destruction of an FBI report into the 1992 fatal shooting at the cabin of white separatist Randall Weaver.
Convicted felons cannot vote in Florida unless their rights are restored by the Clemency Board, which is made up of the governor and Cabinet. The board did not restore Kahoe's right to own, possess or use a gun.
Kahoe recounted the details of the shootout, his role in investigating the FBI's actions and his decision to destroy a report to be sent to the U.S. attorney in Idaho. The report could have been used by lawyers representing Weaver, whose wife and son were killed during a nine-day standoff with government agents at Weaver's rural cabin.
"I read the memorandum, told the supporter who wrote it to throw his copy away. I kept my copy and did not file the memorandum," Kahoe told the board. "I didn't file it because I thought at that time the memorandum was useless."
Kahoe said that he spent more than $100,000 defending himself before the Department of Justice offered him a deal just months before his retirement: plead guilty and stay on the FBI rolls until his retirement or be fired, forfeit his retirement and face an indictment.
He served one year, 20 days in federal prison and completed two years probation.
"I'd like to have my civil rights restored because I'd like to vote," Kahoe said. "I haven't been able to vote. I don't attempt to justify what I did. I should not have told this individual to throw the memorandum away. I should have filed my copy of the memorandum. The memorandum exists, it always has existed, it's here today if anyone cares to read it."
He said he now owns an employee leasing business in Jacksonville.
"It has approximately 40 employees, we provide their health insurance, their vacation, when the stock market gets better we'll have a 401k as well," Kahoe said.
None of the board members objected to Bush's recommendation that Kahoe's rights be restored.
Later, Bush said, "It's a fascinating story. He admitted his wrong doing, which is important. He served his time, he paid his debts. He participated in something that he regretted and I was happy to be a part of giving him a chance to have his rights restored."
Posted for educational and discussion purposes only
I knew that, but thanks for reminding us all.
I also recall quite a few FReepers saying no justice would be done while Clinton and Reno were running the show.
Once the "adults were in charge", all would be better, so we were told.
From the article: "The board did not restore Kahoe's right to own, possess or use a gun."
Nuremberg
He did wrong then and he seems to be fibbing about it now.
The bottom line on fibbies is that they can't take what they dish out...
Precisely.
You win "Best Post of the Thread"
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