July 29, 1994 - Part 1
July 29, 1994 - Part 1
(11:26:56) Senator KERRY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to be recognized on this issue for a minute. The Senator from North Carolina said that the cover- up continues today and there's some impression being left, without adequate factual foundation, that this somehow may be something more than an innocent mistake or something. It's my understanding that while be was supposed to be available that be's on vacation because he didn't get the invitation prior to the time be was going on vacation and that he's available Monday. If be's available Monday and be is indeed, by mistake, legitimately on vacation-I'm not saying it is legitimate-but if that's true, then it's irresponsible to suggest that there's some great .99. cover-up going on and all I'm saying is we ought to be careful of the terminology we use before we understand the circumstances. He is going to testify. We all know he'll come here and we have the capacity to compel him to come here. The CHAIRMAN. He'll be here. Senator KERRY. We shouldn't The CHAIRMAN. He'll appear, Senator Kerry, let me call on make it a mystery that he isn't. as I've just indicated. you for your opening statement. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN F. KERRY Senator KERRY. Mr. Chairman, one thing has become very clear through the discussions and bearings thus far on Whitewater and that is that the American people do not want these proceedings to become a partisan circus. They don't want to see Republicans and Democrats wasting dollars and time scoring points against each other. They want to know the facts. They deserve to know the facts, the truth, and they want to know that we are capable of find ing those facts without ourselves violating standards of decency and ethics. I believe thus far, this Committee has done a good job of laying the groundwork for serious examination of this issue. That groundwork has been the most comprehensive to date, benefiting, obviously, from prior work of the Independent Counsel. More than 37 people have been deposed, some for over 3 days at a time. More than 44 deposition days have been crammed into a small period of time with three lawyer teams working each day and sometimes all night. 10,000 document pages have been turned over, reviewed and, despite leaks, there will be information which will be 25 heard here for the first time. I believe that this first stage represents a serious inquiry that will not compromise the work of the Independent Counsel. We've set the stage for competent probative bearings and whether they will be is up to us. While it's inappropriate to draw conclusions fore witnesses have fully testified, we do knoW from depositions the parameters of their testimony. We know what these hearings are about and equally importantly, we know what they are not about Just as we have a responsibility not to dismiss or diminish we also have a responsibility not to exaggerate what may have occurred, or fantasize So an honest appraisal, a nonpartisan appraisal, requires us to make clear that we are not close to a constitutional crisis, to a grand conspiracy, and there is no indication whatsoever, of direct Presidential abuse or involvement. But this is a legitimate inquiry, and there are important questions which deserve to be answered. There are clearly legitimate questions about some individuals who acting on their own in what they deemed to be the interest of the President or themselves--or both-may have exercised questionable judgment. That is mostly what these bearings are about, judgment. There is a world of difference, obviously, between Presidential directives, instructions or actions, and the independent actions of staff outside of the President's involvement, and there is a world of difference between conversation and actions taken or not taken by that staff.