from: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1212rubyridge-ON.html

Governor restores rights of FBI agent jailed in Ruby Ridge probe
Brendan Farrington
Associated Press
Dec. 12, 2002 12:45 PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the Clemency Board on Thursday restored the civil rights of the FBI agent convicted of destroying records during the investigation of the deadly 1992 shootout at Ruby Ridge in Idaho.

E. Michael Kahoe, a former head of the FBI's violent crime and major offenders section, pleaded guilty in 1997 to obstruction of justice for ordering the destruction of an FBI report into the 1992 fatal shooting at the cabin of white separatist Randy Weaver.

Convicted felons cannot vote in Florida unless their rights are restored by the Clemency Board, which is made up of the governor and Cabinet. The board did not restore Kahoe's right to own, possess or use a gun.

Kahoe recounted the details of the shootout, his role in investigating the FBI's actions and his decision to destroy a report to be sent to the U.S. attorney in Idaho. The report could have been used by lawyers representing Weaver, whose wife and son were killed during an 11-day standoff with government agents at Weaver's rural cabin.

Weaver and associate Kevin Harris were both acquitted of all charges related to the siege.

"I read the memorandum, told the supporter who wrote it to throw his copy away. I kept my copy and did not file the memorandum," Kahoe told the board. "I didn't file it because I thought at that time the memorandum was useless."

Kahoe said that he spent more than $100,000 defending himself before the Justice Department offered him a deal just months before his retirement: plead guilty and stay on the FBI rolls until his retirement or be fired, forfeit his retirement and face an indictment.

He served one year, 20 days in federal prison and completed two years probation.

"I'd like to have my civil rights restored because I'd like to vote," Kahoe said. "I haven't been able to vote. I don't attempt to justify what I did. I should not have told this individual to throw the memorandum away. I should have filed my copy of the memorandum. The memorandum exists, it always has existed, it's here today if anyone cares to read it."

He said he now owns an employee leasing business in Jacksonville.

"It has approximately 40 employees, we provide their health insurance, their vacation, when the stock market gets better we'll have a 401(k) as well," Kahoe said.

None of the board members objected to Bush's recommendation that Kahoe's rights be restored.

"It's a fascinating story," the governor said later. "He admitted his wrongdoing, which is important. He served his time, he paid his debts. He participated in something that he regretted, and I was happy to be a part of giving him a chance to have his rights restored."