Maker of film on Davidian standoff, former AG Janet Reno to visit Baylor campus this week

At the request of a conservative student group, filmmaker Mike McNulty will present two of his films about the Branch Davidian standoff on the campus of Baylor University this week.

The screenings will coincide with a visit from former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno as she gives a speech at the campus Thursday. McNulty will screen his films Wednesday.

His documentary films have cast a suspicious eye on the government's role in the 1993 raid on the Davidian compound and the resulting fire that occurred 10 miles east of Waco.

The two films that will be screened Wednesday are the feature-length Waco: A New Revelation

and the 30-minute The FLIR Project

. McNulty's first film on the subject, Waco: Rules of Engagement

, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1997.

McNulty called Reno a government "shill" and said he plans to attend her speech and question her.

Chris Allen, a Baylor graduate and state chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas, helped set up McNulty's visit.

He called it a "counter-information campaign" to Reno's speech.

"We think that as dutiful citizens, it's our responsibility to share the other side," Allen said.

Reno will reportedly address the importance of public service and reflect on the Davidian incident. The 51-day standoff began on Feb. 28, 1993 after a gun battle between Davidians and agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The agents were trying to arrest Davidan leader David Koresh on automatic weapons charges.

Reno approved the use of tear gas on the compound in an attempt to end the standoff by forcing the Davidians to leave the building. A massive fire followed, and 76 sect members died on April 19, 1993.

Reno later said she would not have approved the tear gas if she had known deaths would occur. A federal judge ruled last year that David Koresh was solely responsible for the deaths.
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Reno announced earlier this month that she'll run for governor of Florida. She said her speech won't include campaign-related themes.
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After hearing that Reno would speak, McNulty said he contacted Baylor and offered to come and debate her over the Davidian ordeal.

"They weren't interested in that," he said. "They were interested in having her come in and speak and do the polite hand-holding, 'Isn't this wonderful, she's confronting her demons.' I don't think so. I think she has to answer some questions."

McNulty admitted that it's doubtful that his questions will be approved by school officials. All questions must be submitted in writing and the session will be moderated by Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr., school officials said.

Larry Brumley, a Baylor spokesman, said the school welcomes both McNulty's and Reno's differing viewpoints.
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