August 2, 1994 - Part 9
August 2, 1994 - Part 9
(22:20:49) The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hatch, I don't want to break up your question, but we're over the time. Senator HATCH. I'll finish in just two sentences. Mr. Nye testified earlier, again today, that this is what occurred. Was be telling the truth? Mr. ALTMAN. I'm not disputing that account, Senator. I agree with that. I'm just saying I don't think that's a briefing on the status of the investigation. Ms. Kulka testified that she would make her decision by February 28 as best she could. Senator HATCH, But earlier today Mr. Nye testified that Ms. Kulka discussed a tolling agreement. Now, was he telling the truth? Mr. ALTMAN. She did discuss a tolling agreement, Senator, but she didn't provide, as far as I'm concerned, a status report on the investigation, Senator HATCH. But he also said The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hatch Senator HATCH, I have one sentence and I'll quit for the night. The CHAIRMAN. I understand but you just said a minute ago two sentences. I don't want to be arbitrary but it keeps going back and forth and we're over the time. Senator HATCH. Could I make one last comment an then en quit for the night. Mr. Nye also testified that Ms. Kulka told you that it would be difficult to conclude the investigation by February 28, and that it Mr. be necessary to present a tolling agreement to the Clintons. Did he testify truthfully? ALTMAN I believe be did, Senator, but I just don't think that's telling me what the status of the investigation is. Ms. Kulka's testimony , I think, is the decisive one and she said-she doesn't dispute Mr. Nye's account I don't think-she says I was 500 going to make my decision, and knowing Ellen Kulka as I do, she sure would have. Senator HATCH. My time is Up. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Sarbanes. Senator SARBANES. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Altman, today in your statement, your opening statement, you were discussing the different story put forward by Ms. Hanson and by you, and you said recollections can differ, of course. There's nothing unusual in that. Now, the thing I'm trying to Puzzle through, and I want to put to you and then get your explanation is, I accept that, but there's a difficulty when your recollection seems to be differing with a whole list of people. Let me just run through that. In fact, in your statement on page 4, you acknowledge a difference with Mr. Roelle concerning a hearing about a possible criminal referral as early as March 1993. Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, if I can just say Senator SARBANES. No, let me run through them all and then I'd be happy to have you address them. You say I respect him, but I do not recall it. Then we have the Hanson testimony. Of course, Ms. Hanson was in here for a very long time yesterday and stuck very much to her story about having-you keep wanting to use the word "task" and I'm not quite sure whether you attach a particular significance-I'd like to get off of that word to find out whether you might have, in some other way, suggested to her or indicated to her something that she ought to go over and talk to Nussbaum. In any event, you said you didn't do that. Now, Ms. Hanson on September 30, sent you a memorandum in which she says, "I have spoken with the Secretary and also with Bernie Nussbaum and Cliff Sloan" which are the two people she talked to at that White House meeting after the Waco session. "I have asked Bill Roelle to keep me informed, Is there an thing else you think we should be doing?" That's a memo to you of September 30. Ms. Hanson also called Sloan the next day after the meeting where she saw Nussbaum and Sloan, and tells him to remind Nussbaum about The New York Times fax that you had sent on March 23. She had mentioned to Nussbaum about this material that had come from you, and Nussbaum bad said to her, I didn't get any such material. I don't know what you're