August 2, 1994 - Part 1
August 2, 1994 - Part 1
(10:05:59) Senator D'AMATO. Page 142 of the deposition. Question: What were you told the White House was going to be told about the recusal issue? Answer: I believe that Mr. Altman planned to recuse himself. Page 142 in the middle of the page. Is that your testimony? Mr. STEINER. Just one moment, please. [Pause.] The CHAIRMAN. Have you been able to locate that page, Mr. Steiner? Mr. STEINER. Yes, I have, Senator D'AMATO. Do you see that on line 10? Mr. STEINER. I do indeed. Senator DAMATO. "Question: What were you told the White House was going to be told about the recusal issue?" Then what's your answer, line 12? Mr. STEINER. I believe that Mr. Altman plans to recuse himself. As I testified this morning, I think he was planning to or leaning toward that direction. Senator D'AMATO. So it was your understanding that Roger Altman planned to tell the White House of his decision to recuse himself. Is that correct? Mr. STEINER. That is correct. Senator DAMATO. You testified that you had a meeting with Roger Altman shortly after he returned from the February 2 meeting at the White House. What did Mr. Altman tell you about the White House's reaction to his decision to recuse himself in the Whitewater case? Mr. STEINER. As I said earlier, Senator, to the best of my recollection, be only related to me the reaction of Mr. Nussbaum in specific terms . As to the other attendants at the meeting, be said that they did not have particularly strong views about it one way or the other. 329 Senator DAMATO. Let me refer you now, Mr. Steiner, to your testimony, page 144. Take a look at that, line 2. "Question: What did Mr. Altman say to you that had been said at the White House?" Would you read your answer, starting from line 6? Mr. STEINER. Line 6. "Second, that Mr. Nussbaum did not agree with Mr. Altman's plans to recuse himself." Senator D'AMATO. Now what else did you talk about? Mr. STEINER. I'm not sure I understand your question, Senator. Senator DAMATO. What else did Mr. Nussbaum say? Mr. STEINER. As I said earlier, Mr. Nussbaum made arguments, to the best of my recollection as related to me by Mr. Altman be gave two reasons why be thought recusal was not the wisest course of action. Senator DAMATO. One? Mr. STEINER. I'm sorry? Senator DAMATO. One reason? Mr. STEINER. Two reasons, Senator. Senator DAMATO. What was the first reason, court precedent? Mr. STEINER. Court precedent, that is correct. Senator DAMATO. And the second, that he was afraid that the RTC would handle it in a partisan manner? Mr. STEINER. That's correct. Senator DAMATO, If Mr. Altman left. OK Did you have an opinion as to whether or not, did you respond to the whole recusal discussion that you bad wrilth Mr. Altman, if you can recall? Mr. STEINER. I'm sorry, I don't understand your question, Senator. Senator DAMATO. What was your opinion? You discussed this issue about recusal with Mr. Altman. What advice did you give him? Mr. STEINER. I was in favor of Mr. Altman recusing himself. Senator DAMATO. What was Mr. Altman's reaction to the response of the White House to the decision to recuse himself when he mentioned that to them? Mr. STEINER. I think he was surprised by the strength of Mr. Nussbaum's arguments, and that's about it. Senator DAMATO. He was surprised at the reaction? Mr. STEINER. I think he was surprised by the strength of Mr. Nussbaum's arguments. Clearly, be was considering them carefully. Mr. Nussbaum is an articulate and thoughtful attorney. I think he wanted to weigh Mr. Nussbaum's advice carefully. Senator DAMATO. Is that why you came to the conclusion that he was under intense pressure from the White House? Mr. STEINER. Let me state again, Senator, that I did not attend that meeting. I wasn't present to see Mr. Nussbaum. Senator DAMATO. But you had a feeling that there was intense pressure. This was our boss. You understood what he was going to through? He wanted be a good soldier, He goes in with the idea to recuse himself. lie comes back, he's pretty much beat up, and now he's going to reconsider, Were you aware, for example, that Jean Hanson bad recommended that be recuse himself.? 330 Mr, STEINER. I can't recall the individual positions of the members of the Treasury staff, Senator. Senator DAMATO. You mean the General Counsel and you never discussed this issue of recusal?