[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8401-S8402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       FREEMEN PROSECUTION AWARD

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to come to the floor to 
honor a Department of Justice team that is receiving the top 
prosecution award today at Constitution Hall. This team of 12 
prosecutors and investigators was faced with the challenging task of 
bringing LeRoy Schweitzer, Richard Clark, Daniel Petersen, Rodney 
Skurdal, Dale Jacobi, Russell Landers, and others, known as the 
``Freemen,'' to justice.
  As you may remember, the Montana Freemen were a group of individuals 
who refused to recognize any authority by U.S. officials. Instead, they 
created their own ``republic'' and court system. After warrants were 
prepared for multiple counts of fraud, armed robbery, and firearms 
violations, they holed up on their ranch for 81 days in a tense 
standoff. The team recognized today were critical in preparing the 
warrants, negotiating the peaceful resolution of the standoff, and 
convicting twenty-one members of the group. In addition, this team 
worked with many other prosecution teams to prepare and present related 
cases in over thirty federal districts.
  It makes me especially proud that there were seven Montanans among 
the group being recognized. They are Assistant U.S. Attorney James 
Seykora, Paralegal Specialist Deborah Boyle, IRS Special Agents Michael 
Mayott and Loretta Rodriquez, FBI Senior Resident Agent Daniel 
Vierthaler, FBI Special Agent Randall Jackson, and Montana Department 
of Justice Agent Bryan Costigan. I also appreciate the contribution of 
Robertson Park, George Toscas, David Kris, Tommie Canady, and Timothy 
Healy as award winners contributing from agencies outside of the state. 
I also think it's only appropriate to recognize the investigation and 
prosecution leader, Montana U.S. Attorney Sherry Matteucci. Although 
this entire prosecution effort fell under her responsibility, as a 
political appointee, she is not eligible for this award.
  The Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service is given once 
each year, with the decision based upon the following: performance of a 
special

[[Page S8402]]

service in the public interest that is over and above the normal 
requirements and of an outstanding and distinctive character in terms 
of improved operations, public understanding of the department's 
mission, or accomplishment of one of the major goals of the department, 
exceptionally outstanding contributions to the Department of Justice or 
exceptionally outstanding leadership in the administration of major 
programs that resulted in highly successful accomplishments to meet 
unique or emergency situations, or extraordinary courage and voluntary 
risk of life in performing an act resulting in direct benefits to the 
department or nation. From where I sit, this team has met or exceeded 
all of these high standards during the course of the investigation. Few 
other prosecutions have received the external scrutiny in the press, 
Justice management, and the public eye as did the Freemen prosecution. 
A terrific amount of juggling priorities and concerns was necessary to 
pull off a peaceful resolution of this crisis. Their conviction record 
on this case was solid, and will likely be the model from any similar 
situations in the future.
  So, it gives me great pleasure to bring our attention to this team's 
success, and I add my thanks for a job well done. We wish them nothing 
but continued success as they move on to other jobs within their home 
agencies. Again, congratulations on this great, well-deserved 
honor.

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