Shortly after she was sworn into the role of Attorney General, Janet Reno became embroiled in controversy over the deadly raid she ordered following a standoff between the Branch Davidians, a religious sect, and federal agents at the sect’s compound near Waco, Texas.
The standoff, which began on Feb. 28 1993, before Reno became Attorney General, was sparked when U.S. agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms made a surprise raid on the compound, trying to execute a search warrant. Gunfire erupted during the raid, and four agents and six members of the religious sect perished.
That led to a 51-day standoff, which ended on April 19 1993, when Reno approved a raid on the compound using tear gas. During the raid, a fire broke out and the complex burned to the ground, killing around 80 people including the sect’s American leader, David Koresh. Later that day, Reno took full blame of the incident, telling television cameras “I’m accountable. The buck stops with me.”
But other than a loud outcry at those draconian actions, Janet Reno never suffered much in the way of consequences, and died in her sleep in her own bed years later. Should have died in prison, but the later impeachment of Bill Clinton was badly impaired for failing to indict him for the REAL criminality he inflicted upon America.
Yeah the ATF cowboys got shot up and they took revenge. I hope to live until I see these jackbooted thugs get what they deserve.