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American Scandal

Ruby Ridge Standoff | Down from the Mountain | 4

American Scandal

Wondery

True Crime, Exhibit C, Society & Culture, History, Documentary, History Daily, American History Tellers, Lindsay Graham

4.618.7K Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Negotiators make a final attempt to resolve the standoff before an FBI assault team moves in with force. Later, both the Weavers’ and the government’s actions are scrutinized in a criminal trial and congressional hearings.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Want to get more from American Scandal?

0:02.9

Subscribe to Wondry Plus for early access to new episodes,

0:06.4

add free listening, and exclusive content you can't find anywhere else.

0:10.1

Join Wondery Plus in the mountains of North Idaho.

0:34.3

Former Special Forces agent and right-wing personality, Bo Grites, sits inside an armored

0:39.3

personnel carrier as it slowly drives up a steep slope. The rocky terrain makes for a bumpy ride,

0:45.1

and Grides holds tight to a handle on the ceiling. Also in the vehicle is FBI negotiator Fred

0:50.6

Lansley. The two men are on their way to a ramshackle cabin at the top of the hill where

0:55.2

Randy Weaver, his family, and a friend have been holed up for nearly a week following a shootout

1:00.3

with government agents. Two days ago, Grites appeared at a protest near the property. He wanted

1:06.4

to show his support for the Weaver family and offered to negotiate an end to the standoff.

1:11.0

At first, the FBI brushed him off, but yesterday all that changed.

1:15.3

When Weaver learned that Grite was in Idaho, he asked the FBI to send him up to the

1:20.0

mountain to talk face to face.

1:25.1

The armored vehicle comes to a stop, 200 feet from the cabin, and Grites gets to work.

1:31.1

He undoes the hatch on the roof of the vehicle and tilts a megaphone toward the opening.

1:35.5

Randy, this is Bo Grites.

1:37.3

They say you want to talk to me. Can you hear me?

1:40.4

Weaver yells something in response, but Grites can't make it out. He turns to Lansley.

1:45.7

I'm going to stick my head out of the roof here, but don't worry, he's not going to shoot me.

1:50.1

And if he does, well, I've been shot at before.

1:52.9

Grite stands up and lifts his head and shoulders through the hatch.

...

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