The focus of Danforth's investigation, according to sources close to Johnston, are some handwritten notes Johnston made prior to the 1994 criminal trial against the Davidians. Johnston later allegedly withheld the notes from investigators, fearing they would be used against him by his enemies within the Department of Justice. Sources within the department also allege that Danforth's prosecutors warned Johnston several weeks ago that if a favorable profile of him slated for the September issue of Texas Monthly magazine appeared in print, Johnston would be indicted. Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith confirmed that Johnston told Pam Colloff , a writer for the magazine, that people in Danforth's office had threatened him with prosecution if the story appeared. Smith decided to run the story.
Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, end of story.
The content of our story is irrelevant to the investigation. Sources close to Johnston say that Danforth's prosecutors also insisted during their interrogation of Johnston that he serve time in prison, and that he lose his law license and not apply to have it reinstated. Roy Minton , the Austin lawyer who represented Johnston in some of the negotiations with Danforth's prosecutors, said the officials insisted Johnston be charged with perjury, a felony. Experts on Waco are puzzled by the news that Johnston may be indicted. The people who remained loyal to the Department of Justice were not targeted even though they sinned.