August 2, 1994 - Part 4
August 2, 1994 - Part 4
(12:05:21) Mr. STEINER. Senator, I can tell you from my own experience, and I can't speak for Mr. Altman, in my own experience, as I've gone through this process for over 5 months now, one is told new facts in the process of being deposed or in the process of reviewing documents. And things which one had forgotten or maybe even didn't know about are brought to one's attention. And I suspect that's what happened to Mr. Altman as soon as they were brought to his attention, as soon as he was made aware of them, he let this is Committee know as soon as possible. Senator KERRY. I want to thank you. I also want to again say to you that I respect the judgments and the lessons that you drew from this, and simply wish. perhaps, that they might have been applied more generally in this process and I know you wish that too. Mr. STEINER. I do indeed. The CHAIRMAN. Senator D'Amato informs me they're near an end on this side with questions. Depending upon what our demands for time are, and Mr. Altman has arrived and will be ready to go when we're ready for him. We've finished on this side, so let me inquire Senator FAIRCLOTH. A quick question. Senator D'AMATO. Senator Faircloth says two questions. Let me say that the Chairman and I are anxious because we're going to have at least 4 or 5 hours of questions for Mr. Altman, it is now quarter to 12, and we want to avoid a marathon. I'd urge Members 401 on our side, if we could, to hold it down so we could start as quickly as possible. So with that, I yield to Senator Faircloth. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Faircloth, Senator Boxer, and I have one final question and, perhaps, we'll be done here. Senator Faircloth. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I'll be brief and quick. Mr. Steiner, I wanted to get one thing straight before we move on to the next hearing. in my earlier round of questioning, you asked what---I asked what you meant when you wrote about Roger Alt an's gracefully ducking the Committee's question about the extent of White House contacts. You said that what you meant was he was asked a question he did not anticipate. I assume that gives you grounds for ducking. Then Senator D'Amato told you that was not right, that Roger Altman had been told the night before, in advance, what question to expect. Then I asked you a series of questions again, what you meant by ducking, and you said, "Senator, as I said before, I do not believe that Mr. Altman lied to this Committee or attempted to mislead this Committee. I believe he spoke truthfully and to the best of his knowlege, " and you went on to say, and I quote, "Senator, as I have said before. I have no reason to believe, nor do I believe that Mr. Altman lied to the Committee." Finally, you said, "I think he was asked a question he didn't anticipate. " Now, this is about 1 minute after Senator DAmato had just told you he talked to him the night before and said you're going to be asked this question so he did anticipate. Senator DAmato had just finished telling you, did you give the answer which you gave and was not accurate because you had practiced it before you came here today? Before you came with us today, you had practiced that answer so you couldn't reprogram yourself or did you just gracefully duck a question? Which was it? Mr. STEINER, Senator, I have been asked about the matters on discussion four times under oath and have given a number of interviews in addition to that. So this is not the first time I've been asked about that diary entry. Each time that I've been asked about it, I have tried to provide people asking the question with my best recollection of the events that occurred. Senator FAIRCLOTH. All right. Do you think we can see some Tnore graceful ducking from Mr. Altman this evening? Mr . STEINER. I think Mr. Altman will testify to the best of his ability. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Roth, you wanted the remainder of Senator Faircloth's time, I understand. Senator ROTH. Yes, I have two questions, Mr. Foreman. The formal OK you gave to Ms. Hanson at the February 2, 1994, meeting, was based on the talking points she showed you; is that correct? Mr. FOREMAN. Yes, Senator. Senator ROTH. And if you were to learn that nonpublic information about the status of the Madison Guaranty case was discussed at this meeting, such as the fact that the RTC would be unlikely to complete the case before the statute of limitations expired, would change your view? 402 Mr. FOREMAN. Senator, I think I would have bad further questions about the purpose of the meeting and who would be attending and that kind of thing. Senator ROTH. So there would be that possibility? Mr. FOREMAN. That's a possibility, sir. Of course, I'm looking back in hindsight with all that we know, but that's my best-my best judgment on that. Senator ROTH, If the meeting included White House pressure on Mr. Nussbaum to change Mr. Altman's recusal decision, would that change your view on the ethics of that meeting?