As to the subject of this report, Special Agent John Banish:
As directed telephonically by Assistant Director Richardsen, GID, on 4 August 1993, I insinuated myself as close as possible to SA Banish during the PARASIEGE operation in Montana and monitored his daily activities, re porting nightly to AD Richardsen’s office and recording notes and observations variously reflected herein. In summary, I find that I cannot accurately estimate the quality or state of SA Banish’s mental health and disposition, or whatever limitations it may or may not have imposed upon his reasoning faculties as they impacted his decision-making ability over the course of the siege. I can, however, offer my impressions of SA Banish’s job performance as compared to those activities generally understood to befit a federal agent.
SA Banish’s methods were unorthodox. SA Banish’s actions were suspect and often baffling, and his motivation for these actions secretive and at times wholly unknown to anyone but himself. SA Banish was inconsistent in following both basic negotiator as well as Bureau SOP, and on at least two occasions detailed herein blatantly disregarded or, at best, casually ignored direct Bureau orders. The joint forces’ confidence in SA Banish varied widely throughout the siege, but overall would be rated at a level lower than the minimum standard any effective case agent would be expected to garner. SA Banish’s interpersonal skills were naught and his personality — that is, his presence, characterized by the caliber of his leadership — was, at best, remote.
Having said this, I find however that I cannot myself join the recent chorus condemning SA Banish’s performance at Paradise Ridge. Despite his numerous shortcomings, I found SA Banish to be entirely focused on the case assigned to him and at all times fully and wholeheartedly dedicated to the successful resolution of operation PARASIEGE I must also contradict SAC Perkins’s and others’ accounting of SA Banish’s professional demeanor, in as plain language as I am capable: at no time in my numerous daily exchanges with SA Banish did I suspect, sense, or otherwise detect any evidence whatsoever of alcohol use. Unsubstantiated allegations as to SA Banish’s deportment can only serve to cloud this already difficult and complicated after-action examination. SA Banish was dispatched to Paradise Ridge under unusual circumstances with the directive to end the delicate, highly public siege situation ongoing therein and deliver the suspect individual while preventing any further harm to the hostage family. Setting aside for a moment the question of the death of Marjorie Ables, with which this internal investigation is primarily concerned, and the death of Judith Ables, which occurred before SA Banish’s arrival, SA Banish resolved PARASIEGE successfully and at extraordinary personal cost. SA Banish delivered all four of the Ables children into safety, including single-handedly saving the lives of the oldest and the youngest at the expense of his own. In this light, I find the recent backlash and revision of SA Banish’s reputation by SAC Perkins and others not only misguided but, frankly, most unfortunate.
I would like to request a personal interview, sir, in support of this report.
SA Mary Grace Coyle
26 October 1993
Butte, Montana
[signature, initialed]
[Stamped “TELETYPE” and “CONFIDENTIAL”]
1 — Mr. Richardsen
1 — Mr. Carlson
1 — Mr. Frankson
1 — Mr. Lewis
1 — Mr. Patrick
[Printed on the bottom of the page:]
These comments are neither the recommendation nor the conclusion of the FBI. This report is not to be distributed outside this agency.