David Chipman Did Not Participate in the Siege in Waco, Texas
The Claim
David Chipman, the ATF chief nominee under Joe Biden, took part in the April 19, 1993 siege on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users and some media organizations are claiming that David Chipman participated in the April 19, 1993 assault on the Branch Davidian compound. The claim is often accompanied by a photo that is said to feature Chipman posing in front of the siege’s aftermath.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation concluded that David Chipman did not take part in the April 19, 1993 siege on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. While the nominee to lead the ATF has worked for the agency for 25 years, he was not present during the siege.
During his recent confirmation hearing, Chipman addressed these rumors. He states that he was not at the siege, but was selected to investigate the aftermath in May of 1993, a month after the assault.
He was chosen as an investigator due to his lack of involvement in the preceding events. He also states that the purported photo (published by the Daily Mail) of him standing over the remains of the compound does not feature him or any other ATF agent.
Chipman’s claims were supported by a statement from an ATF spokesperson. The ATF representative said: "Mr. Chipman arrived in Waco, Texas, on May 2, 1993. His role in the Waco event was solely in a post-incident investigative review capacity.”
