July 29, 1994 - Part 2
July 29, 1994 - Part 2
(11:55:28) The CHAIRMAN. Senator Boxer, I might just make one comment before yielding to Senator Domenici, and that is, as you spoke about Mr. Foster and the tragedy of his death and the impact upon his family, I was so struck, as I m sure you were in reading of the report of Mr. Fiske, that Mr. Foster in days just before his death did try to get help. He called professionals who might have been able to counsel him in dealing with this depression problem that be obviously bad. And one of the great ironies is that he called at a time when the professional was not there. So the evidence we have was that although be tried on two occasions to reach for help, it's just fate that be was not able to get the help at that moment and then sadly didn't try it again. Senator BOXER. And he also feared that if he did make this contact, he could lose his clearance. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. And that is a matter of the record and we'll get into that at some point. Senator Domenici. Senator MACK. If I could, Mr. Chairman, since you're having dialog back and forth on these different issues and questions. I feet compelled to make a response here that there's an implication that at some point there are going to be some questions asked about Foster's death, and somehow that's going to be terrible for us to do that on this side. But I would just remind everyone that we are here because, frankly, of the way the whole situation was handled. There have been serious questions raised so I think people ought to be sensitive to that. The CHAIRMAN. Let me say, Senator Mack, and I don't want to digress at this point, but that certainly wasn't the implication or intention of my remark. Senator Domenici. (11:57:17) OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR PETE DOMENICI Senator DOMENICI. I hope it wasn't the implication of anyone's remarks because I don't think that's the intention on this side, and I think we'll just let it evolve with reference to his death. I don't think anyone on our side is challenging whether or not it was a suicide. So perhaps we can get rid of that rather quickly. 33 But, Mr. Chairman and Members of this Committee, I guess as I look around-even though I'm wayover on this side of the table on the end-I think I've been in the Senate longer than anyone here and I have learned in that period of time, fellow Senators, not to rush to Judgement. And I don't do that very often. In fact, I did not do that in this case. But having considered the facts gathered in advance of these bearings, I have to admit that I'm more than a little distressed about the actions of a number of Administration officials in this matter. Mr. Chairman, much has been said about the Fiske investigation. I believe it is probable that we have more evidence today about Whitewater as it relates to these bearings than Mr. Fiske bad in his investigation, I believe we've bad depositions of more people. Just as much evidence has been gathered and so I believe we now what we're talking about. On this side, we're going to talk about facts. We have many facts. I'm not sure the House had facts, but we've had an opportunity because of this Committee's leadership and the Senate which gives a fair opportunity to both sides. We have plenty of facts to back tip what we're doing. But this story is regrettably an all too familiar part of history in this city because the contacts between the White House and the Treasury Department regarding the RTC investigation into Madison reveal yet another opportunity, another instance in which political considerations took precedence over all else, and I am firmly convinced about that. And that's not a small matter because these actions have seriously jeopardized the RTC's independence. Let me discuss just a couple of items-tbere are many more-but a couple that trouble me deeply. First, I want to focus on something Senator D'Amato raised in his opening remarks. Exactly what did the President's closest advisors at the White House know about the RTCs investigation of Whitewater and Madison Guaranty and bow did this knowledge potentially compromise the RTC's ability to complete this investigation? And I believe we are going to find, before we are finished, that it did that mightily. Confidentiality and secrecy are critical to a successful criminal investigation. Everyone knows that. Otherwise, evidence can be destroyed, testimony' tailored, investigative techniques limited, and the advantage of surprise lost. Yet, the Madison Guaranty investigation's confidentiality was repeatedly violated.