Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993                   TAG: 9305270059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Houston Chronicle
DATELINE: HOUSTON                                LENGTH: Medium

KORESH NEGOTIATION TAPES MAY BE ILLEGAL

Assistant Treasury Secretary Ronald K. Noble, who is heading a Treasury Department inquiry into the Feb. 28 raid on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, said federal authorities will investigate the source of the tapes.

Noble confirmed Tuesday that he received a package containing the tape recordings from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Noble said, however, that he was advised that listening to them may be illegal until "the source of the tapes can be determined."

When asked if he knew what steps may be taken to determine how the tapes were recorded, Noble replied: "I have an idea, but I cannot discuss it."

Before publishing excerpts from the tapes in its Tuesday editions, the Houston Chronicle provided a copy of the recordings to the Treasury Department through the special agent in charge of the Houston ATF office.

Houston lawyer Kent Schaffer, who also obtained a copy of the tape recordings, turned them over to the congressional committee investigating the matter. "I've done what the law requires and that's all I can do," he said.

Schaffer declined comment on whether he represents the individual who made the recordings.

While the original source of the tapes is not known, they appear to contain cellular telephone and police radio transmissions recorded on a scanner.

Most of the recordings appear to contain incomplete conversations beginning in mid-sentence. Also, when a lull in the conversation occurs, the tape skips to another conversation in progress. Both characteristics are commonly associated with scanner monitoring.