WASHINGTON — A teen-age girl's gripping account Wednesday of being forced at age 10 to have sex in a hotel room with Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh effectively muted criticism of federal law enforcement agents on the first day of congressional hearings into the tragic 1993 siege of the cult's compound near Waco, Tex.
Speaking in a soft yet determined voice, Kiri Jewell, now 14, recalled that she was about 7 when Koresh first notified her on a Southern California recreational outing that she would become one of his wives. Jewell said that she was taught how to place a gun inside her mouth to commit suicide.
Her testimony before a silent, jam-packed committee room on Capitol Hill instantly transformed a boisterous, rude proceeding filled with partisan bickering. Republicans, who had scheduled eight days of hearings to attack the government's decision to raid the Davidian compound in assaults that led to the deaths of more than 80 sect members and four federal agents, were stunned by Jewell's allegations against Koresh.
Democratic leaders, who earlier protested that the proceedings were politically tainted by the "surreptitious" involvement of the National Rifle Assn. in the preparation of testimony and witnesses, had called Jewell to testify.
"The Republicans made their own bed, equating David Koresh with federal law enforcement," said a clearly satisfied Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), ranking minority member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime. "And now they have to lay in it."
Republicans were frustrated by Jewell's testimony. They had hoped to focus the day's attention on the shortcomings of a legal affidavit used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to obtain a warrant to search the Davidian complex for unlawful firearms and explosives. Among the criticisms raised during testimony was a listing in the affidavit of child abuse allegations--a crime outside the jurisdiction of the ATF.
"This is a sympathetic witness to an issue that has nothing to do with this hearing," said Rep. Steven H. Schiff (R-N.M.), who conceded in an interview that a disproportionate amount of attention had been drawn away from law enforcement's performance of its duties at Waco. He added: "So details about under-age sex are going to get more attention than a faulty search warrant."
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) called the emphasis placed on child abuse allegations "a major distraction."
