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03/25/93
FBI grows impatient with talks; Cult's leader called cowardly by agent
By Diane Jennings / The Dallas Morning News
WACO-Federal authorities admitted Wednesday to being "put off' by the stalled negotiations with cult leader David Koresh, and they indicated their patience with the 25-day-old standoff may be nearing an end.
Talks to break the impasse were put on hold Tuesday evening through Wednesday because of a high holy day observed by Branch Davidians, officials said.
In a marked change of tone, FBI Special Agent Bob Ricks called Mr.
Koresh cowardly for not releasing the 17 children remaining in the compound and said Mr. Koresh has lost all credibility with federal negotiators.
He said Mr. Koresh has reneged on promises to end the confrontation, which began Feb. 28 after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided the group because of allegations involving illegal weapons. A gunbattle erupted, killing four ATF agents and at least two cult members.
"It appears that keeping one's word does not necessarily apply to Mr. Koresh,' Agent Ricks said. "He has selective morality, it appears, when he is willing to abide by promises that he makes.'
Meanwhile, two older sect members won release from jail Wednesday.
Hearings were delayed for others challenging the government's right to hold them at the McLennan County jail as material witnesses to the raid.
U.S. Magistrate Dennis Green granted restricted release from jail to Gladys Ottman, 67, and Annetta Richards, 62. Their attorneys said the women would go to a halfway house, where they will still be held as material witnesses.
Other cult members, escorted in leg shackles, handcuffs and chains to the federal courthouse for appearances, responded to shouted questions from reporters. They gave brief accounts of the raid and said agents fired first. ATF officials deny that.
Asked when the sect might emerge, Livingston Fagan, 33, said, "When God decrees it, they will.'
Kevin Whitecliff, 32, described the standoff as "God's government vs. our government and the governments of the world.'
Each cult member who has left the compound has been questioned extensively by authorities, and most adults have been given polygraph tests, said a federal law enforcement official who asked not to be named.
Mr. Koresh, who has claimed to be Christ, says about 100 people remain in the compound.
Late Wednesday, British authorities said that Victorine Hollingsworth, a British woman who left the compound Sunday, had told them that cult member Winston Blake of Nottingham, England, died in the Feb. 28 gunfight.
As proof that Mr. Koresh's demands have been met, Agent Ricks distributed copies of the letter sent Monday to Mr. Koresh.
The FBI promised that if he surrendered, Mr. Koresh could communicate with his jailed followers and take part in a live broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Mr. Koresh's rejection of that offer clearly exasperated authorities. Agent Ricks said their patience is not inexhaustible, and he indicated other action may be necessary "if we decide there's no end in sight.'
Mr. Koresh's credibility may be down with negotiators, but it remains high in the compound, Agent Ricks said. No one exits without his permission, communications are tightly controlled, and when followers talk with negotiators "they're acting like automatons,' Agent Ricks said.
A few more glimpses of life in the compound were given at the press briefing. Agent Ricks said cult members have ample food and water, but sanitary conditions are deteriorating and authorities are concerned about the children.
"We believe he either does not care for those children or he is using them as a shield, which is cowardly,' he said of Mr. Koresh.
Agent Ricks also said some members who have been released may have fallen from favor because they drank alcohol after the shootout. Traditionally, alcohol consumption is reserved for Mr. Koresh, Agent Ricks said.
Tuesday's release of Mr. Fagan initially was considered a positive sign, said Agent Ricks, because Mr. Fagan is young and healthy, unlike many previously released members. But Mr. Fagan has been uncooperative and "bellicose.'
"I think there was a signal,' Agent Ricks said. "It wasn't the one we were looking for.'
Authorities continued to bombard the compound with a variety of music Wednesday, from Christmas carols to reveille.
"This morning we thought it'd be nice to wake them up as the sun was coming up,' Agent Ricks said.
Federal authorities are not the only ones losing patience with Mr.
Koresh.
CBN talk show host Craig Smith, on whose program America Talks Mr.
Koresh was offered an appearance, criticized the cult leader on the air Wednesday.
"You're a liar, you're a con artist. Now you might have all those people in the compound conned, but you don't have me conned any more,' Mr. Smith said.
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