August 4, 1994 - Part 7
August 4, 1994 - Part 7
(16:45:43) Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Senator, I really wasn't a part of any of those conversations, and as you might imagine, we haven't had a lot of internal discussions about them since then because of all these investigations. Senator GRAMM. You never heard anybody suggest that they had told him. Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. I have not had discussions of that manner. Mr. PODESTA. No, Senator. Mr. LINDSEY. No, Sir. Senator GRAMM. Well, I'd just like to say in passing, not since the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago have we seen a situation where something so dramatic happened, and yet, as in the case of that massacre, nobody heard a shot fired, Roger Altman comes over to give you the message that he's stepping aside, that he believes that he ought to step out of an investigation that could, in some way, involve an old friend, the President, and he leaves having changed his mind. And nowhere is there any evidence whatsoever that anybody suggested to him that he change his mind Mr. PODESTA, Senator Mr. ICKES. Senator, that is not my testimony and I don't think that's the testimony I've heard. Roger Altman came in and said that he was considering Ling whether or not to recuse himself. And there was discussion about that. At bottom, everyone at that meeting on February 2nd said it was up to him. There were some people who felt they didn't see any legal or ethical necessity, but it was up to him. The second point I would make, Senator--- Senator GRAMM. I'm going to stop you because Mr. ICKES. The second point I want to make Senator DODD. Let him respond. You've asked him to respond, Senator GRAMM. I asked a yes or no question. Senator DODD. He ought to have a chance to explain the answer. Witnesses should have an opportunity to be heard. Mr. ICKES. Thank you, Senator Dodd. The second point I would make, Senator, it is my recollection that during the course of the meeting on February 2nd, Mr. Altman made it very clear that he was going to follow the recommendations of the Staff of the RTC. Senator GRAMM. And their recommendation was what? Mr. ICKES. I don't know what it was or if there has even been a recommendation. Senator GRAMM. We know from all kinds of sworn statements it was that he step out of the investigation. Mr. ICKES. No Senator GRAMM. And that he didn't. Mr. ICKES. You and I are talking about different recommendations. The recommendation with respect to the handling of the civil suit or the possible civil suit. Senator GRAMM. Well, one of the problems (16:48:07)(tape #10092 ends)