Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will speak Thursday night at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, her first visit to the town since she ordered an armed assault on a religious cult there in 1993 that ended in the fiery death of more than 80 people.
Reno, who announced her candidacy for governor last week, said Saturday that she expects her visit will generate widespread publicity, but had not been looking for an opportunity to go there.
Asked if being in Waco might bring some closure to that traumatic time for her, she said, ``No,'' and declined to elaborate.
Reno said she doesn't anticipate visiting the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco that went up in flames after she ordered FBI agents to dislodge the cult members inside. All of those who died belonged to the Branch Davidians.
A federal government investigation afterward found that residents of the compound set the fire, although some critics of the government have contested that conclusion.
The 51-day standoff and its ending seared the town into the national consciousness and garnered Reno enormous attention because she took responsibility for ordering the federal agents to ram the compound's wooden buildings with an armored vehicle and to pump tear gas inside.
The siege began when a raid by ATF agents resulted in a gun battle that killed four agents.
ATF agents said they had an arrest warrant charging the group's leader, David Koresh, with firearms violations.
In several public appearances this past week, Reno was asked about the assault.
She replied that she believes Koresh wanted a fiery end, although she also said that with his death, the full story will never be known.
She said that she feels exonerated by an investigation led by former Sen. John Danforth.
Baylor, a Baptist university with 13,000 students, says on its website that Reno will discuss the importance of public service, as well as the standoff.