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Illegal jamming by
U.S. Air Force
 
House Waco Hearings transcript
 
Testimony of Ambassador H. Alan Holmes,
Assistant Secretary for special operations
and low intensity conflicts at Department
of Defense is the witness. July 31, 1995
 
Opening Statement (Excerpt)
Amb. Holmes: In addition, from March ten to seventeen, we provided equipment to interfere with television reception within the compound, and we provided civilian personnel support to operate that equipment. The equipment was removed from Waco on March eighteen.
 
Later
Mr. Zeliff: Why was the jamming equipment used at Waco? You indicated in your testimony, in your opening statement March tenth to March seventeenth and then was removed on the eighteenth. Does the use of such equipment need Presidential approval or anybody's approval?
 
Amb. Holmes: That equipment was used to interfere with the TV reception. It is approvable by normal DOD authority. It is equipment that was requested, and we respond to that under existing authority.
 
Mr. McCollum: Now, with regard to jamming equipment that was used to prevent television signals, you indicated that the operation of this equipment was by civilians. Did you mean the FBI, you did not mean civilian military personnel did you?
 
Amb. Holmes: No, I...let me check something here. (Holmes checks his notes.) The equipment to interfere with the reception of the TV signals was operated by DOD civilians.
 
Mr. McCollum: It was by DOD civilians?
 
Amb. Holmes: Yes.
 
Mr. Schiff: Mr. Holmes, I'd like to ask you this question. I believe you said that Department of Defense civilian personnel were operating some surveillance equipment at the Waco site?
 
Amb. Holmes: No, I said that DOD civilians were operating equipment to interfere with the reception of TV signals in the compound for approximately five days in mid-March.
 
Mr. Schiff: Were they operating from some location other than right around the Waco compound?
 
Amb. Holmes: That was operated right there in the vicinity. I don't recall exactly where it was, but it was definitely right there in the Waco vicinity.
 
Mr. Schiff: What agency did those, within the DOD, what agency, what service did those civilians come from?
 
Amb. Holmes: (Holmes checks his notes)
They came from the Air Force.
 
Mr. Schiff: And if we need their names, are you able to provide that, at some point?

Amb. Holmes: I think we could do that. I don't see why not.
 
Mr. Zeliff: Mr. Ambassador, the fact that you indicated that the Air Force used jamming devices, and I believe, that was for about a week and then they left on the eighteenth. Why did they leave?
 
Amb. Holmes: I really don't know why they left, but they did. (Laughter from the committees.)
 
Mr. Zeliff: They just thought it was a good idea to do it for a week and then leave?
 
Amb. Holmes: I don't know, let me consult with some of my colleagues. (Holmes speaks with a man seated behind him.)
 
Mr. Zeliff: And I understand they were DOD civilians?
 
Amb. Holmes: I think probably the answer to that question should be directed to the FBI. I mean they, you know....
 
Mr. Zeliff: OK, we'll do that.
 
Amb. Holmes: They must have said they didn't need them.
 
Mr. Zeliff: And my question really is...is they were DOD civilians, I think I heard you say?
 
Amb. Holmes: Yes.
 
Mr. Zeliff: And were actually...they were manning those devices?
 

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 Amb. Holmes: Yes., they ran that equipment and , I think they were, perhaps, a mixture of DOD civilians and , perhaps, contractors. I'm not quite sure of the breakdown.
 
Mr. Zeliff: Unlike the situation where the FBI were actually manning the tanks?
 
Amb. Holmes: That is right. Everything else...all other equipment was run by the FBI.
 
Mr. Zeliff: Thank you very much.

George Zimmerlee  1998  Research on Criminal Government  Rev. 11/98
This material is not protected by copyright.