Reno's selection of Danforth comes after the FBI's recent admission that potentially flammable tear gas was fired at a bunker near the Branch Davidian compound in 1993 VIDEO CNN's Pierre Thomas looks at the man who likely will head up the Waco investigation Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: The FBI's Waco surveillance tapes MESSAGE BOARD Waco revisited

September 7, 1999
Web posted at: 9:37 p.m. EDT (0137 GMT)

In this story: Sponsored Clarence Thomas for Supreme Court 'Conscience of the Senate' RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General Janet Reno is close to naming former Sen. John C. Danforth (R-Missouri) to lead an outside investigation into unresolved issues surrounding the 1993 FBI siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, sources said Tuesday.

One Justice Department source said that while no formal offer has been made, a deal with Danforth is 90 percent done.

But Justice Department officials said outstanding issues regarding the scope and mandate of the investigation must be worked out before Danforth accepts the job.

One critical question: the power and authority of the investigator to pursue any crimes uncovered.

Reno has pledged to get to the bottom of what happened on April 19, 1993, at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco following the FBI's recent admission that potentially flammable tear gas was fired at a bunker near the compound -- an action which authorities had denied for six years. Eighty people, including leader David Koresh, died at the compound.

Sponsored Clarence Thomas for Supreme Court

Danforth, 63, served two terms as Missouri's attorney general and three terms in the U.S. Senate.

He's a Republican well-liked by Democrats.

During his 18 years in the Senate, Danforth cultivated his moderate image by frequently crossing party lines on issues ranging from civil rights to health care to prayer in school.

As the loyal sponsor of Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme court, Danforth played a central role in one of the most bitterly partisan battles of the decade.

The senator stood by Thomas as Anita Hill charged him with sexual harassment. Thomas won confirmation in part because of Danforth's reputation for independence.

"For a hundred days, I've been a spokesman for this person, Clarence Thomas, and on this hundredth day, I act as his spokesman again with great pain, and great anger at the injustice which is being perpetrated on him," said Danforth in 1991.

Danforth, as the Missouri attorney general, had hired Thomas out of law school two decades earlier.

'Conscience of the Senate'

In 1993, President Bill Clinton tapped Danforth and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska) to co-chair a bipartisan commission on entitlements.

In keeping with Danforth's independent streak, the commission endorsed controversial changes in Medicare and Social Security. The politically radioactive proposals were never acted upon.

A graduate of Yale University Divinity School and an ordained Episcopal priest, Danforth's supporters called him the "conscience of the Senate."

When he decided not to run for re-election, Danforth said he wanted to pursue life beyond politics:

"I don't want to be a person who is a politician and nothing else," Danforth said in 1994. "I don't want to be a senator and nothing else. So I want a life beyond politics."

Now, after nearly five years enjoying the nonpolitical life as a private attorney in Missouri, Danforth is again taking a leading role in a high-profile Washington controversy.

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