August 2, 1994 - Part 6
August 2, 1994 - Part 6
(01:10:28) Senator GRAMM. Mr. Altman, may I go back. I didn't know you, and I asked you this question, and you said-you made up a question, you didn't answer my question. And then Senator Domenici followed up and asked you the gate closing question, and you said one meeting, and we now know there were 40, or 40 contacts. But I'm asking you now about February 3, using your definition. You pull the Treasury General Counsel out of a lunch. She runs down to the White House to have the meeting, and she's told that it's a good thing only a few people know that she recommended you recuse yourself. What was that meeting about? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, when I answered your question I did my best to answer it. I thought what the Committee was interested in was whether we had imparted, improperly, information to the White House on the RTC investigation of Madison and that's bow 433 I answered the question. The meeting you referred to had nothing to do with the RTC investigation of Madison. Senator GRAMM. I asked you, my question was, have you or any member of your staff had contact with the White House concerning Whitewater or Madison? Why were you debating recusal? Because in the Congress there was pressure that you do it because of your contacts with the President; is that not right? Mr. ALTMAN. I'm not sure what the question is, Senator. Senator GRAMM. The question is, why all this 22 days of agony, according to your Chief of Staff in his diary, why all this agony about recusal? It seems to me the obvious answer is the conflict of interest between you being a close friend of the President's and you overseeing a criminal investigation which had referred to him. Mr. ALTMAN. First of all, Senator, I bad no role of any kind in this investigation or any other investigation. I bad no such role at any time that I was at the RTC. No role whatsoever in any investigation. I believe Mr. Roelle and Mr. Ryan or others confirmed that in testimony before you. That's first. senator GRAMM. You were not bead of the RTC? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, I had no role at any time in any investigation, and I believe they confirmed that. senator GRAMM. Why were you considering recusing yourself? Mr. ALTMAN. I think I did the right thing on recusal. Senator GRAMM. I agree-you should have done it 22 days sooner, but the point is why did you do it? Senator MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. Chairman, the time is up. We've got, to move. The CHAIRMAN. I understand, but we've gone now to the 10-minute time periods and that's run. I think rather than have him squeeze a response in there, you're probably better off having a second round and getting at it. I want to say one thing before I yield to Senator Dodd. You mentioned our speaking, you and 1, speaking to me as Chairman after you appeared before the Committee on the date in question. Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. I'm sure you'll recall the fact that I, at the time, offered you an opportunity if you wanted to take it to come back to the Committee in the days immediately following, that I would convene a meeting of the hearing-hearing meeting for the chance for you to go ahead and amplify to whatever extent that you felt you might need to do so. Do you recall that? Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir, and as you know, I was seriously considering it. The CHAIRMAN. Right. I just want that on the record that we did have that conversation and I did make that offer to you and Mr. ALTMAN. You did make that offer and if I recall properly and you please correct me if I don't-I think that I said to you that I thought it would be a good idea and I'd like to do it. The CHAIRMAN. And here you are. Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir, here I am. The CHAIRMAN. All right, Senator Dodd. Senator DODD Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. 434 First of all, Mr. Altman, let the record reflect, and I think it should, you have served in two Administrations and done so in view, with great distinction Mr. ALTMAN. Thank you. Senator DODD. -in the past, and have come back to Government, and as pointed out earlier worked on some of the testiest issues that have been before this Congress in the last 20 years, the Chrysler issue and New York. Whatever else we May go into here I think it's important for people who may not know you, for people who have been in Government and have had the opportunity to work with you, my experience is that you've been extremely forthright and an honest public servant and I'd like, at least, from this Senator's perspective to include that in the record. Mr. ALTMAN. Thank you. May I just say this: I don't know if the Committee agrees with me or not, the reason I wanted the tape to be shown I may not have answered in the best fashion, but I don't think that tape shows someone who's up here trying to conceal information.