Feds Settle Ruby Ridge Suit For $380,000 Payment To Kevin Harris Ends His Rights Claim; Government Does Not Admit Any Liability

The federal government paid $380,000 on Friday to Kevin Harris to settle his allegations that his rights were violated when an FBI sniper wounded him during the 1992 siege at the Ruby Ridge, Idaho, compound of white separatist Randy Weaver.

The Justice Department announced the settlement of the last remaining civil lawsuit arising from the weeklong standoff. The government did not admit any liability as it paid Harris to drop his $10million civil damage suit.

In 1995, the government paid Weaver and his three surviving children $3.1million for the killing of Weaver’s wife, Vicki, and son, Samuel.

Earlier this year, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed state criminal charges against the FBI sniper, Lon Horiuchi. The same shot by Horiuchi, a member of the bureau’s hostage rescue team, killed Vicki Weaver and wounded Harris.

Assistant Attorney General David Ogden said Friday, “This settlement resolves this long pending case in a way that is fair to the United States and all involved.”

Harris now lives in Moses Lake. Through his wife, Danielle, he released this statement Friday night:

“It’s upsetting that the government didn’t have to admit any guilt. However, we’re glad it’s finally over. It’s been a long haul. We would like to say thanks to our families, friends and the community of Republic (Wash.), who stood by us over the years.”

The Harrises lived in Republic from July 1993 until last March, when they moved to Moses Lake. He is now a plant technician for Praxair, a company that supplies industrial gases to manufacturing plants.

In Republic, Harris had been one of the owners of a metal manufacturing plant.

The Ruby Ridge siege, which led to new rules governing when FBI agents can fire their guns, had its origins in 1991. That year, Weaver, who had been charged with firearms-related offenses, was indicted for failure to appear at his trial.

In 1992, Weaver’s case was referred to the U.S. Marshals who sought to persuade him to surrender. Instead of surrendering, Weaver remained on his remote, wooded property along with his wife and children, and their friend, Harris.

On Aug. 21, 1992, while U.S. Marshals were watching the Weaver property, an exchange of gunfire broke out which resulted in the death of Deputy Marshal William Degan and Weaver’s son, Samuel.

Randy Weaver and Harris were later acquitted of federal charges of killing Degan.

On the second day of the standoff, the FBI hostage rescue team arrived. Horiuchi fired at Harris, who was armed, as Harris retreated toward the cabin. The bullet passed through the curtained window of the cabin door, killed Vicki Weaver, who was standing behind the door holding an infant, and wounded Harris.

Harris faced a new murder charge in 1997, filed by Boundary County prosecutor Denise Woodbury. When Harris turned himself in at the Ferry County Courthouse in Republic, more than 100 supporters showed up. Some waved signs that read: “Already Acquitted” and “Enough is Enough.” A judge later dismissed the charge.

The Justice Department investigated a handful of top FBI officials for allegedly covering up their role in the siege and shootings, particularly in drawing up the rules of engagement for the snipers. One former FBI supervisor, E. Michael Kahoe, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for destroying an internal FBI post-confrontation critique.

Of the handful who were suspended during the probe, only Kahoe was charged with a crime. But Deputy Director Larry Potts was demoted, and he and a top aide of his, Danny Coulson, both left the government before decisions were reached on whether to impose administrative discipline.

Staff writer John Craig contributed to this report.