FBI Director Louis Freeh announced Friday that he disciplined 12 bureau employees, including his own deputy director, in the killing by an FBI sharpshooter of white separatist Randy Weaver's wife during a 1992 standoff in Idaho.
No one was fired, but acting deputy director Larry Potts received a letter of censure. Punishments ranged from an oral reprimand and written censure to suspension from duty.Freeh said that while there were "no crimes or intentional misconduct," those punished "demonstrated inadequate performance, improper judgment, neglect of duty, and failure to exert proper managerial oversight.
The lengthy internal investigation focused on the actions of the sharpshooter, of his immediate supervisors and of Potts, who then headed the FBI's criminal investigative division and helped set ground rules for the standoff.
Commenting on the death of Weaver's wife, Vicki, Freeh said no administrative action was warranted. "The FBI sniper's shots were taken in defense of other law enforcement officers on the scene and were consistent with the law and FBI policy."
Freeh said that he found "major failings" on behalf of the disciplined agents. He concluded there was "inadequate performance" by the other six and by two former employees who searched the crime scene, documented evidence, submitted evidence for laboratory analysis and dealt with pre-trial discovery.
A month ago, Freeh named Potts acting deputy director, the bureau's No. 2 post vacated by David Binney's retirement. FBI sources said then that the reason Potts was not given the deputy's job outright at that time was because no final decisions had been announced in the Weaver case.
The key findings:
- Potts failed to provide "proper oversight with regard to the rules of engagement." He had overall responsibility for the crisis.
- Danny O. Coulson, now in charge of the FBI's Dallas office, received a letter of censure for failing "to provide proper managerial oversight relating to the rules of engagement." He was deputy assistant director of the criminal division at the time of the shooting.
- Eugene F. Glenn, who has been head of the Salt Lake City field office and on-scene commander at the scene, was recommended for censure and a 15-day suspension from duty. He has been removed from his command and reassigned to FBI headquarters.
The punishment was based on Glenn's "inadequate performance in approving the rules of engagement and his failure adequately and personally to address the poor working relationship with the United States attorney's office."
- The commander of the Hostage Rescue Team during the incident, who since has voluntarily accepted a field investigation reassignment, was issued a letter of censure and suspended for 10 days.
Freeh found the unnamed agent drafted and recommended rules "that arguably directed agents to act contrary to FBI policy and law."
- E. Michael Kahoe, now in command of the Jacksonville Field Office and then a section chief in the criminal investigative division, was recommended for censure and suspension for 15 days. He was responsible for preparation of the review "that inaccurately and incompletely analyzed" Vicki Weaver's death.
Despite the actions, Free called the Weaver incident "one of the most dangerous and potentially violent situations to which FBI agents have ever been assigned."