CASE COST GOVERNMENT AT LEAST $7 MILLION

Randy Weaver's war with the government in North Idaho was costly - in human lives and taxpayer dollars.

It started in the late 1980s when Weaver sold a federal informer two illegally sawed-off shotguns and then refused to help agents investigate white supremacists.

He was indicted, but in February 1991 failed to appear in court to answer weapons charges. He holed up at his mountaintop cabin until Aug. 21, 1992, when six deputy U.S. marshals were discovered by Weaver's dog during a surveillance mission.

A gunfight killed Weaver's 14-year-old son, Sam, and Marshal William Degan. The next day, an FBI sniper wounded Weaver and friend Kevin Harris and killed Weaver's wife, Vicki, as she held the couple's 10-month-old daughter.

A badly wounded Harris surrendered Aug. 30. Weaver and his three daughters came out Aug. 31.

In July 1993, a federal jury acquitted Harris of all charges, including murder, conspiracy and weapons violations, and convicted Weaver only of failure to appear in court. He served 16 months in jail and moved back to his native Iowa.

In January 1995, the FBI reprimanded a dozen agents for their handling of the Weaver case. Five were suspended, including Deputy Director Larry Potts, who eventually was demoted.

In August 1995, the Justice Department awarded Weaver and his three daughters $3.1 million to settle their $200 million civil claim against the government.

While the government routinely does not track the expenses of individual cases, estimates indicate the 11-day Weaver siege and his trial costs taxpayers another $4 million.

That doesn't include internal FBI and Justice Department investigations and Senate hearings.

Copyright 1996 Cowles Publishing Company
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