July 29, 1994 - Part 4
July 29, 1994 - Part 4
(15:55:34) Senator KERRY. Officer Rolla, you were asked earlier about this question of moving up the autopsy. It is agreed that the autopsy was moved up by a day, Isthat correct, doctor? Dr. BEYER. Well, as soon as I heard about the case, I had the body transported over, and we make every effort to do an autopsy within less than 24 hours if possible. Therefore, once I could get the body over, we proceeded with the autopsy. Senator KERRY. But did you receive a message, doctor, asking you to try to proceed faster than normal? Dr. BEYER. No, sir. Senator KERRY. It is my understanding that Major Hines, who is sitting behind you but not at the table, that his recollection is different, and that he believes that the request to move it up was in order to facilitate the transfer of the body to Arkansas. Is that accurate, Mr. Rolla? Do you remember that, Ms. Braun? Ms. BRAUN. That was my understanding, when we left that morning, the autopsy was set for the day after the 22nd, and then I found out later on in the day that it had gotten moved up and that they did the post on the 21st. Senator KERRY. And it was your understanding that that was in order to facilitate the transfer of the remains to Arkansas? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, that is my recollection, Senator KERRY. Now, doctor, whether or not there was any request to move the time of the autopsy up, this would obviously call into question whether or not there was any reason for so doing. And I ask you, sir, whether or not, in the course of any of the 20,000 autopsies you have performed, you have ever altered, changed, or adjusted the outcome of your autopsy to fit anybody's requirements or schedule? Dr. BEYER. Not anybody else's schedule to me. We may alter it to fit our own schedule. Senator KERRY. I understand that, but have you altered the findings, what you determined in the course of autopsy, did you change that or alter any finding, as a consequence of anything anyone asked you to do in this case? Dr. BEYER. No, sir. Senator KERRY. Have you ever done that in any case? Dr. BEYER. No, sir. 87 Senator KERRY. So irrespective of the timing, you are saying to us that the findings with respect to this autopsy are true and accurate and as you found them to be at the time. Is that correct? Dr. BEYER. That is correct. Senator KERRY. Now, irrespective of what you learned that night when you went to the Foster's house, did either you, Mr. Rolla, or you Ms. Braun, find that anything that you subsequently learned from the family that you could not learn that very night, did that alter, in any way, the perceptions or conclusions you drew at the scene at Fort Marcy? Mr. ROLLA. I do not believe either one of us had any access to the family after that night. Other investigators and Captain Hume may have. Senator KERRY. But you learned things afterwards? Mr, ROLLA. Right. Like I said, nothing from the day, from that scene until today has ever altered my opinion that It is a suicide. Ms. BRAUN. That goes for myself also. When I went to the scene, observed the scene, and when I left, as far as I was concerned, I was dealing with a suicide and there was nothing to show me anything different. Senator KERRY. There are really three parts to the involvement here of the Park Police, One is at the scene, two is at the Foster house, and three is at the White House. You were not present at the White House, correct? Ms. BRAUN. I was never involved. Senator KERRY. So you cannot testify to any of that? Ms. BRAUN. No. Senator KERRY. You can testify as to your presence at the Foster house and there you used the word "stonewalled," and I want to be ' absolutely clear when the word, stonewalled, comes up that were clear about what we're talking about. Senator ROTH. MT. Chairman, could we ask the witnesses to speak into the microphones, please? The CHAIRMAN. Yes. These microphones aren't the strongest, and I think, Ms. Braun's trying to do that, Maybe if you tip it just a little bit, that will help. Those will bend. You just have to push them a little bit, senator KERRY. Looking at your deposition, Mr. Rolla, where you were asked previously about your presence there, you used the word "stonewalled," you were referring exclusively to family members who at that time were distraught. Is that correct? Air. ROLLA. That is correct. Senator KERRY, But no official or no one at the White House stonewalled you at that point in time. Is that accurate? Mr. ROLLA. That is very accurate. Senator KERRY, is that correct, Ms. Braun? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, I would say that is accurate. Senator KERRY. So your perception of stonewalling is on]), as to distraught family members 1 hour after you had been at the scene of the suicide? Mr. ROLLA. My meaning of stonewalling is that, yes, right. I guess it sounds worse than I meant it. Yes, we were stonewalled and again, I explain that by the fact that they had information 88 about depression, different things, and we were given no information Senator KERRY. Now, no one at any time whatsoever pressured you into what you should put into your report, did they? Mr. ROLLA. No. Senator KERRY. Ms. Braun? Ms. BRAUN. No.