August 1, 1994 - Part 2
August 1, 1994 - Part 2
(13:00:46) Here is Mack McLarty. He knew it. Counsel Nuss. baum knew it. Harold Ickes knew it. Eggleston knew it. Beth Nolan knew it. Mr. Sloan knew it. Maggie Williams knew it, George Stephanopoulos knew it. Mr. Podesta knew it. Bruce Lindsey knew it. Frankly, I think the issue becomes very important because none of us know where and to whom this information was passed, as confidentiality was breached, and delivered to the White House. Mr. Ryan, if Roger Altman was put in a difficult position, do you have any idea why be did not recuse himself? Mr. RYAN. I only know what be has told me his reasons were. Senator DOMENICI, What did be tell you his reasons were? Mr. RYAN. He told me that he bad considered the matter very carefully 11 and had drawn a parallel between his responsibility at the RR with a CEO in the private sector. He said, if there was a matter of this magnitude with this kind of implication to a company, the CEO in a private sector would not recuse himself but' would perform his responsibilities. Senator DOMENICI. Does that lead you to think maybe be has some confusion, with reference to a private sector CEO and the acting bead of the RTC, with confidentiality and the other kinds of impediments to that office? Mr. RYAN. Sir, it leads me to conclude that, with all the advantages of hindsight and from political perspective, be would have been much better off had he recused himself. Senator DOMENICI. Do you believe now, with everything you have heard and based upon our long relationship in these kinds of activities, that he should Me recused himself? Is that what you just said? Mr. RYAN. All I can say is, from a legal perspective and from an ethical perspective, I don't have the expertise to make that kind of a judgment. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not an ethics expert. I can simply say, from an appearance perspective and from a political perspective, he probably should have. Senator DOMENICI, Mr. Roelle, there's going to be some discusSion-it's already started today-about the reasons for the delivery of all of this information some of which at least should not have been delivered. I think that's almost established prima facie here. There are going to be some allegations that it had to be done because of press information. You were asked in your deposition: Do you agree that one of the concerns underlying the confidentiality of criminal referrals is that premature disclosure could jeopardize the prosecution itself.? Your answer was, in my opinion, a very excellent answer and the reason I'm reading this. It says: If we turn out to be wrong, then it destroys the person if it becomes public information. If we are right, then it destroys the case or it potentially could destroy the case. So either way-either way, there is a reason that you should never discuss them. Many of our referrals arc rejected. I mean, not all of them are processed. 47 Does that summarize your concern about the value of keeping these things confidential? Mr. RYAN. Yes, sir. Senator DOMENIci. From what you have heard now, have things been divulged to the White House that should not have been divulged, that are confidential based upon the way you operate and what you think about the responsibility of someone in Mr. Altman's position? Mr. ROELLE. I'm glad you made it the way I operate. I cannot speak to what is proper in terms of the law' or in terms of these investigations. As far as I am concerned and in my opinion, these criminal referrals should not have been discussed.