August 3, 1994 - Part 8
August 3, 1994 - Part 8
(19:45:47) Senator SARBANES. Let me ask you. As you interacted with Ms. Hanson, and I'll extend the question to others at the table, did you perceive her as being Altman's agent or acting on her own? Mr. SLOAN. My only knowledge is with respect to that reference because she made that reference. Senator SARBANES. What's your perception of the Altman/Hanson arrangement or relationship, business relationship? Do you think, Hanson would have come to the White House bringing you information about the criminal referrals if Altman hadn't authorized or tasked or instructed her, indicated to her, directed her to come over with that information? Mr. SLOAN. Senator Sarbanes, I honestly am not in a position to give an informed Judgment on that matter. Senator SARBANES. When you all interacted with Hanson on mat-. ters, did you perceive her to be acting for Altman? Mr. SLOAN. The only thing that I can tell you is that with that reference to Roger Altman in the meeting--I mean, I assumed there had been some prior discussion with Roger Altman but the, sole basis for that assumption was the comment that I related to you. And I should add that in a subsequent telephone conversation with me, she said that no, she had been mistaken, and she made" 153 some reference to a March 1992 New York Times article, and so Senator SARBANES. That's the conversation where she told you she was mistaken in telling Nussbaum that materials had been sent over? Mr. SLOAN. That's correct. Senator SARBANES. And she then the next day called and it said it wasn't materials, it was a faxed article that was sent? Mr. SLOAN, I don't remember her saying that exactly. I remember her calling our attention to the article. I don't remember if she said it had been sent. I have a couple of lines in my notes of September 30th that relate to that discussion, but my independent recollection is that she was calling our attention to the article. Senator SARBANES. That's the article that Altman faxed back in March 1992? Mr. SLOAN. That's what I would now understand it to be. It's a March 1992 New York Times article about the Whitewater matter, is my understanding. Senator SARBANES. It's an article of March 1992, but Altman faxed it over on March 1993? Mr. SLOAN. That's a fact that 1 believe I've learned in the last several weeks-- exactly when it was faxed-in the course of these investigations, but that's my understanding. Senator SARBANES. Of the people at the table, Mr. Eggleston, you're the only one who was in the meeting of February 2nd in which the recusal was discussed. How long did that meeting last entirely? Mr. EGGLESTON. Twenty minutes. 1 really have very little recollection of how long. Senator SARBANES. How much of it was devoted to the recusal discussion? Mr. EGGLESTON, I think it was about half and half, but, Senator Sarbanes. I'm really guessing, Senator SARBANES. And were the principal discussants of the recusal Altman and Nussbaum? Mr. EGGLESTON. Yes. Senator SARBANES. Anyone else? Mr. EGGLESTON. I don't specific-I'm not using that coyly, I don't specificall remember anybody else. The CHAIRMAN. Would you yield at that point, Senator Sarbanes, because that is a little different than what I think I heard earlier when of you indicated that there were a number of concerns expressed by people in the room, so that it was not just an expression concern from Nussbaum, but there were others there and that the phalanx of opinion was pretty much on the other side of that issue. Am I not remembering that correctly? Mr. EGGLESTON. No, I think you're accurate. I cannot separate this conversation out by who the speakers were except I have a general recollection that Mr. Nussbaum and Mr. Altman were the two people who probably spoke most. I could not say, and I guess have a general sense that others asked questions of Mr. Altman. I don't think I asked any questions, so I'm sorry. I think I have amended my answer, Senator Sarbanes. 154 Senator SARBANES. When the meeting-what set the alarm bells off in the White House? Were you actually watching the hearing and listening to the testimony? Mr. EGGLESTON. The alarm bells were set off by myself. I was in your hearing room in this building. Senator SARBANES. You were here at the hearing? Mr. EGGLESTON. I was here at the hearing. Senator SARBANES, You sat there in the audience and thought to yourself, this is not the right testimony? Mr. EGGLESTON. Yes, sir, after I heard the responses to the questions from Senator Gramm I had a cellular phone and I went out to the hall to call back to the White House. Senator SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I see my time is about up and I want to just take the remaining time to just engage Mr. Mein for a moment. I really have no question to put to him.