August 1, 1994 - Part 2
August 1, 1994 - Part 2
(12:55:54) Senator BOXER. Point of information Senator DAMATO. Absolutely nonsense and I want that to go into the record. I think it's important. I'll ask, Mr. Chairman, that this letter be put in as part of the record. The CHAIRMAN, Without objection. Senator Boxer, you're seeking recognition. Senator BOXER. My point of information is, I was just going to say, that I had a line of questioning, and I asked it for a specific reason, I have no problem with Senator D'Amato putting his statement, but then to go on to say it's different than what occurred at the White House when there's some confusion on that, I think, is going beyond responding to my line of questioning. Senator D'AMATo. There's no confusion by way of the depositions given by the people who gave the briefings and we'll get into that. Senator BOXER. But we've had people here Senator DAMATO. They did not, give the briefings to the White House. Mr. Altman gave the briefings to the White House. Ms. Hanson testifies as to what took place. Ms. Kulka refused, she said no. When asked to speak to private counsel, she said no. The CHAIRMAN. We can develop this further as we go along. Senator Domenici. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR PETE V. DOMENICI Senator DOMENICI, Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'm more than delighted to let that feud go on, if you'd like. 45 Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to say to the witnesses, I appreciate the difficult position you all are in also. You expressed your concern, some of you, about the difficult position Roger Altman was put in but I'd like to explore that a little bit. I think, essential] , the fact that he was put in a difficult position did not that be could not have extricated himself from that difficult mean position at any number of times during his tenure in wearing two hats. Let me start: Who was it that said Roger Altman wanted this case treated like all other cases? Mr. RYAN. That was me. Senator Domenici. Would you agree now that it was not? Mr. RYAN, I would agree that it was not in certain respects; that's correct, Senator DOMENICI. Is there any doubt in your mind that Roger Altman, in these various discussions and given what you know about the message he carried to the White House, was treating the case differently than other cases that you had talked with him about? . Mr. RYAN. I think that's correct. Senator DOMENICI. What's going to happen is I don't believe we're going to be able to find out why, in this first round of hearin S. But I believe there are many inferences that will come from this. This is the very narrow part of the investigation, and I have in the back of my mind-and I'm sure many people watching are wondering-why did all of this take place? What was the White House trying to do or not do in gathering up this unique information, much of which was totally confidential? Now, having said that, let me ask, Mr. Ryan, as an experienced person in this field, would it be appropriate to tell the subject of an investigation that the investigation would not he completed before the statute of limitations expired? Mr. RYAN. No, I don't believe so, sir. Senator DOMENICI. What could the impact of that be? Mr. RYAN. Obviously, the impact could have various effects on the investigation. Senator DOMENICI, But, if there's a reason for not doing it, then there might very well be important ramifications that are prejudicial to one party or the other or people if that occurs. Is that right? Mr. RYAN, I think that's correct, Senator DOMENICI, Evidence could be, in certain instances, done away with. People could make it more difficult to gather the facts. People could be told about the situation and they could act accordingly. Isn't that correct? Mr. RYAN. Yes, sir. For all those reasons we keep these matters confidential es, Senator DOMENICI. When I think about this case and say, "What happened to this information," I know, -more or less, which people were at all those meetings. But, just so everyone will understand what worries me, I wonder where this information ended up after it was delivered, principally by Roger Altman, to the big meeting on February 27 1994, and the two meetings before that, one in September anyone on October 14, 1993. 1 just want to read a list of 46 people in the White House that know what Roger Altman knows and know much about this confidential information. This is just an abbreviated list of who would know. I give it to you because it seems to me, if you're concerned about, keeping information from getting out, it should be important to us to 11 know who bad this information because the more who know, the more it goes.