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Mediator says FBI made Freemen an offer

freeman

May 1, 1996
Web posted at: 10:00 a.m. EDT

BRUSETT, Montana (CNN) -- Former Green Beret James "Bo" Gritz says the FBI is offering a deal to the Freemen: If they surrender Wednesday, Montana will drop all state charges. But he was not optimistic that the standoff is on the verge of coming to an end.

Gritz and former Arizona police officer Jack McLamb entered the Freemen compound Wednesday morning for a fifth straight day of negotiations.

"If they come out within 24 hours, it's Monty Hall time," Gritz said Tuesday, referring to the host of the "Let's Make a Deal" TV game show. (179K AIFF sound or 179K WAV sound)

Hours later, sources told CNN that while such a deal had been suggested, the Freemen seem to be concentrating as much, if not more, on a chance to appear before a group of Montana lawmakers to present evidence of their claims of government wrongdoing against them.

Bo Gritz

Gritz said he does not think the group will accept the offer to surrender. "They will not submit to Washington, D.C., and its U.S. jurisdiction," he said.

The FBI had no comment on Gritz's statements.

Earlier Tuesday, Montana legislator Karl Ohs and Montana Attorney General Chief Special Prosecutor John Connor Jr. spent an hour and a half with the Freemen. They told CNN they discussed the previous proposal to offer the Freemen a legislative forum to air their grievances.

Ohs

"We had serious discussions," Ohs said. "[The forum is] part of what we discussed." (77K AIFF sound or 77K WAV sound)

Tuesday night, Ohs told CNN the Freemen would have to surrender to the FBI before a legislative forum could take place.

House Minority Leader Ray Peck agreed. "We won't negotiate beforehand or guarantee them anything until they submit to the law like every other citizen," Peck said. "I don't think you cut a deal about enforcing the law. You follow the law."

Connor, who also is expected to return the ranch Wednesday, declined to reveal more details about the discussions before the end of the week to avoid jeopardizing a possible settlement.

kids

Gritz said several individual Freemen want to negotiate deals to surrender. He said Gloria Ward, who lives on the ranch with two of her daughters, will give up if authorities promise to let her keep her children. Ward is wanted in several states involving the custody of her daughters, Courtnie, 10, and Jaylynn, 8.

Sources tell CNN an offer has been made by the state of Utah to drop charges against Ward if she walks off the property in the 24 hours.

In Billings, U.S. Attorney Sherry Matteucci said Tuesday the government will not release a Freemen-made videotape to the news media.

Connor

The videotape was brought out of the compound by Gritz for release to news organizations.

The 30-minute tape was meant to explain the Freemen's position in the standoff against the FBI over year-old federal indictments charging some members in a mail fraud and check forgery scheme involving threats against public officials and firearms violations. It was given to Gritz Sunday.

The FBI standoff at the Freemen compound is now in its 39th day.

Gritz, credited with helping to end the standoff between federal agents and Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992, has been allowed by the FBI to try to mediate a settlement since coming to Brusett last week.


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