July 29, 1994 - Part 5
July 29, 1994 - Part 5
(16:55:37) Senator SARBANES. Fine. Thank you very much, I think that an. swers that point. I just want to make a couple of observations, Mr. Chairman The Chairman. Senator Sarbanes Senator SARBANES. -because I know we are late in the day. First of all, I must say to the two Park Police that others have commented about the difficulty of your job. I find it difficult to cornprebend arriving at someone's home to tell them-it's a little bit like what Senator Murray was saying-telling them that a suicide has taken place, and that their husband or father is gone; and then -- I understand what you were trying to do-but then to proceed into an investigation. It just seems to me that the emotional reaction to the news, the shock of it, and the horror of it, and the tragedy of it is such that it would make the questioning very difficult to handle. I would think that the sort of responses that Senator Murray outlined would be natural responses, and I am frank to say I understand an effort to delay a public announcement in order to get to the man's mother so she does not learn about it over the television. I think that is quite understandable. Now, Ms. Braun, Senator Mack said to you "is it usual to have statements of the death of a victim released by the White House" and you said "no." Correct? Ms. BRAUN. Well Senator SARBANES. Let me ask you this question, It is not usual to have a suicide victim who works at the White House, either, is it? Ms. BRAUN. It is very unusual. Senator Sarbanes. Now let me ask you, Mr. Rolla, about these personal effects. I take it the key to the locker was in your desk? Is that the fact? The personal effects were in the locker? Mr. ROLLA. They were in a locked locker, and I had the key. Senator SARBANES. You had a key, and there was another key to the locker in your desk? Mr. ROLLA. There was one key to the locker, and that was locked in my desk. I had two keys to my desk. Senator SARBANES. OK Mr. ROLLA, One was with me, and other I forgot that I had saved and locked in a briefcase at work. Senator SARBANES. So this, quote, sort of "breaking into your desk," that was just to get the key to open the locker? Right? Mr. ROLLA. That is correct. Senator SARBANES. Now you recalled that you had another key down there? Is that right? Mr. ROLLA. Right. Senator SARBANES. Where was that key located? Mr. ROLLA. After I got through the original phone calls and it started to sink in, I remembered I had a second key to my desk. It's in a briefcase I keep at work that had a combination lock. I 107 gave them the combination to the briefcase so they could retrieve the other key. Senator SARBANES. So they got the key out and got the personal effects out of the locker. Mr. ROLLA. Correct. senator SARBANES. You bad no problem with returning the personal effects because everything in the personal effects that you thought was relevant to the investigation you bad made either copies of or notations of So you had the information that you thought might be relevant or needed with respect to the personal effects? Is that correct? Mr. ROLLA, I had the information I needed, but in another circumstance I wouldn't have returned the personal effects then, that way. I would have saved it for myself to return. It gives me a second opportunity to meet with the family and talk to them and reinterview them about other things. SenatorSARBANES. I see. Mr. ROLLA. That was not my first choice to do that, but again I was at home and had not much say in the matter. SenatorSARBANES. OK. Thank you very much. The CHAIRMAN. Senator DAmato. Senator D'AMATo. Mr. Chairman, I have not engaged in any questions as it relates to this aspect of our hearings and our witnesses, but I would just like to make an observation. It seems to me the kinds of things they have told us and reported to us are things that we could absolutely understand, or at least this Senator could. I mean, the fact of a death, the body being found, a I loved one, I wouldn't let you speak to my sister or my friend. I would tell you this isn't the time. I think you have to understand that. I certainly do; and I believe that to be the case. I think to try to read any more or any less into that aspect would do us a disservice, to be candid with you. I think sometimes we have a tendency when we look at things, literally what do you mean, et cetera, when you give your depositions the scene that is described had to be horrific. It bad to be horrifie for that family. Web Hubbell I have no great grief for, but Sheila Anthony was his comrade, his friend, his sister's friend, worked with him, and would see Kim coming in and putting his arms around and saying come on over here. I certainly do not think he meant to be abusive and I think Ms. Braun recognizes that. \