August 4, 1994 - Part 3
August 4, 1994 - Part 3
(11:50:13) Ms. WILLIAMS. No, Senator. Senator BOXER. Did the First Lady ever entreaty you in such a fashion? Ms. WILLIAMS. No, Senator. Senator BOXER. Well, Mr. Chairman, I am not going to use up all my time, but I have to say this to the two of you: I think that you are really good public servants. I have never really talked to you before. But I want to say to you that your strong focus and your strong purpose on what you are in your job comes through to me, and I think you served the First Lady well, the President well, and the country well. And I do wish-I do wish-that everyone else in the Administration had that focus. Because, had they had that focus, I do not think we would be here right now. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Boxer. Senator Hatch. Senator HATCH. In your prepared testimony you stated that "no one" attempted to influence the RTC's decision on whether or when to bring claims against individuals with regard to the failure of Madison. Would an attempt by the White House or Treasury staff to shift civil iurisdiction from RTC and give it to the independent Counsel, OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR HATCH Senator HATCH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. McLarty, welcome. It is good to see you and Ms. Williams. Mr. MCLARTY. Good morning, Senator Hatch. Senator HATCH. Mr. McLarty, do you know of any communications between the White House staff and the Department of Justice concerning the scope of the Independent Counsel's charter? Mr. McLARTY. No, I do not. 317 were it to have occurred, in your view qualify as "an attempt to influence the RTC's decision"? Mr. McLARTY. Well, Senator, my statement was I am not aware of any efforts on the part of the White House to influence an RTC decision. And it is my understanding that other career members of the RTC have expressed a similar view. Senator HATCH. I understand you are not aware of it, but if that actually happened would that qualify as an attempt to influence Mr. MCLARTY. I do not know, Senator, that it would, but to the best of my knowledge it has not happened. Senator HATCH. OK. Ms. Williams, let me spend a few minutes with you. OK? Your position is Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady? MS. WILLIAMS. Yes, Senator. Senator HATCH. In this position, you attend all senior staff meetings, right? Ms. WILLIAMS. Some. Senator HATCH. As many as you can? Ms. WILLIAMS. Yes. Senator HATCH. "All" may be too all inclusive. You came to Washington after having worked for Mrs. Clinton. I think you were with the Children's Defense Fund, as well? MS. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. That is correct. Senator HATCH. I have a lot of respect for them, as you know. How long did you work for Mrs. Clinton before you came to Washington? MS. WILLIAMS. From September to December. Senator HATCH. Let me turn to Mr. Altman's diary for a few minutes. You are familiar with those entries? Ms. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir, I AM Senator HATCH. In fact, Mr. Cutler, the White House Counsel, asked you about those diary entries prior to your deposition before this Committee? Ms. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Senator HATCH. You were provided a copy of those diary entries? Ms. WILLIAMS. I was provided Senator HATCH. In other words, prior to your deposition, I guess? Ms. WILLIAMS. Prior to my deposition. Senator HATCH. Right. In fact, Mr. Altman provided you with a copy, did he not? Ms. WILLIAMS. Yes, he did. Senator HATCH. OK. When we deposed Mr. Altman, he explained that the reason he gave you a copy is because he felt "badly" about Providing the Committee with copies. Is that your recollection? Ms. WILLIAMS. Of Mr. Altman's testimony? Senator HATCH. Well, that he felt badly that lie had provided the Committee with copies. I guess what I am asking you is: What would Mr. Altman have felt badly about, if you know? Ms. WILLIAMS. I am not sure I quite understand this question. 318 Senator HATCH. Well when we deposed him, he said he felt badly about providing the Committee with copies, and that is why he provided you with one. I was just wondering if you knew why he would feel badly about that. Ms. WILLIAMS, About providing the Committee with copies? Senator HATCH. Right. MS. WILLIAMS. No, I do not know why he felt badly about that. Senator HATCH. Could you see where providing you a copy of the diary entries could be seen as another one of Mr. Altman's famous "heads up" decisions? Ms. WILLIAMS. Well I did not necessarily view it in that context because Mr. Cutler had earlier asked me questions about the diary, which was the first time I ever heard about it. Senator HATCH. All right. During your deposition when you were asked about being provided a copy of the diary entry, you did not inform the Committee that Mr. Altman had provided you with a copy. Right? Ms. WILLIAMS. I did not, but let me say, having reviewed my deposition, that the questions as I recall did not make it necessary at that time. The way the questions were being asked, it was: Who was the first person to inform you.? And then later questions were: Who read you the copies of the diary? So, I did not, Senator HATCH. And in fact when you were asked by the Committee if you "had any idea" where the diary pages your attorney had came from, your response was "I have no idea." Ms. WILLIAMS. That is still correct, because my attorney did not receive copies of Mr. Altman's diary from -me, Senator HATCH. Well, but the important point is that you had an opportunity to review those diary entries prior to your deposition, and that they were provided to you by Mr. Altman. Right? Ms. WILLIAMS. Well, I believe the point is twofold, actually.