IT'S TIME TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WACO MESS

As special counsel Jack Danforth's inquiry into the Waco mess proceeds, ominous reports are emanating from certain Texas precincts. If it weren't clear before, it is now: The former Missouri senator will have to confront a "pattern of non-accountability" surrounding the 1993 Waco siege existing at the Justice Department of Bill Clinton and Janet Reno. This phrase "pattern of non-accountability" comes from no less a source than the federal prosecutor who handled the case from the beginning.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Johnston offered those sentiments to Danforth recently during a five-hour interview. Later, in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Johnston said Justice Department officials have taken steps that could be considered elements of a cover-up of government wrongdoing.

Among Johnston's disturbing allegations is that Justice officials refused to prosecute government agents who made false statements about the initial raid on the Branch Davidians by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Johnston further alleges, according to the Associated Press: "The department also denied using pyrotechnic tear gas for six years after federal prosecutors in Texas had learned of their use; classified Johnston a mutineer for releasing information about the use of the pyrotechnic gas; sent subtle and not so subtle messages threatening to pin the blame on him for the delay in the release in information; stamped key Waco documents privileged' to block their disclosure; and obstructed his attempt to warn Reno that she wasn't being told the whole truth about Waco."

These are grave matters indeed. Many Americans of a conservative persuasion might be pardoned for thinking that if this were the Reagan or Bush administrations, we would already be hearing talk of impeachment. It is vital that Sen. Danforth get to the bottom of this and air all the information, so that the public is fully informed and our system can work its way.