Justice Caves; Texas Judge To Get Waco Evidence

September 14, 1999
The Drudge Report

The Justice Department has decided to back down from its attempt to stop a federal judge in Texas from gaining control of evidence relating to the Branch Davidian siege at Waco in 1993, the DALLAS MORNING NEWS is reporting on Wednesday.

Last month U.S. District Judge Walter Smith, who is overseeing a wrongful death civil suit filed by surviving Branch Davidian members, ordered all evidence to be turned over to his court in Waco -- only to have the government challenge his order.

In a bold move, Judge Smith stated he would hold the government in contempt if the evidence was not handed over!

On Tuesday, the Justice department announced that it would not challenge Judge Smith's authority to gather all evidence.

The NEWS' Lee Hancock and David Jackson quote U.S. Attorney Mike Bradford, who initially expressed the government's plan to challenge Smith:

"Our intent is to comply with the order. We're working on that now."

Developing...