August 2, 1994 - Part 6
August 2, 1994 - Part 6
(01:20:15) Mr. ALTMAN. This says The Washington Post and the Associated Press may be pursuing a story on that subject. It doesn't say that I 've communicated a detail of criminal referrals to the White House. This is a compendium of stories the press may be working On, that's all this is. That's all the Early Bird has ever been. Senator DODD. Your testimony today is that you don't have any recollection of this memorandum? 436 Mr. ALTMAN. I don't have a precise recollection of it, but I have a very clear recollection of the Early Bird and what it is. As I say this is a list of stories the press may be working on. That's all that it is. The word "Madison" doesn't appear in here. Senator DODD. Well, "criminal referrals" does. Mr. ALTMAN. I just think that if someone sends a list of stories the press may be working on, that's a heck of a lot different than saying, gee, this confirms that I advised the White House on the subject of the criminal referrals. I don't see any connection almost at all with them, between the two. Senator DODD. Well, I understand your interpretation of this, but-and I appreciate that, but I think it's also important to establish for the record that whether or not Ms. Hanson thought this was something other than just a Rose Law Firm story or referring to criminal referrals, your testimony is you don't have any-you don't recall receiving this memo. Mr. ALTMAN. That's number one, but I also have, as I say, a close familiarity with the Early Bird, and I just don't think that this memorandum confirms what several 'have suggested that it does confirm, not at all. Senator DODD. Let me move on because time does flee along here. First of all, yesterday Ms. Kulka was asked on numerous occasions, about whether or not you told her that she would be, in effect, in charge of these matters. I recall her saying that, in fact, occurred. I'm satisfied that was the case. We're going to have Mr. Ickes before this Committee and I gather that Mr. Ickes has stated that you told him and others in the meeting on February 2 that the statute of limitations was going to present a problem for the RTC and, in fact, communicated that information to the First Family, as I understand it. So I want to go over the meeting that you had on February 1 with Ms. Kulka. I gather that it was a meeting with Ms. Kulka, yourself, and Jean Hanson to discuss the statute of limitations on February 1; is that correct? Mr. ALTMAN. I believe so, Senator, yes. Senator DODD. Did Ellen Kulka tell you that the RTC would have enough information to file claims by the 28th of February even though its investigation may not be entirely completed? Mr. ALTMAN. I don't recall that. What I recall is Ms. Kulka saying that by the 28th the RTC would make its decision, and I believe that's what the Senator DODD. My colleagues, please, I can't hear. Mr. ALTMAN. I believe what I do recall them saying is that by the 28th the RTC would make its decision, and I believe before this Committee yesterday she did confirm that. The notion that we conveyed the information on February 2 that you referred to is categorically false. Senator DODD. Do you recall what she did tell you, rather than go through a series of questions here about that. At this point we already had a significant debate going on in the Senate about whether or not to extend the statute of limitations. Our colleague from New York was certainly reminding all of us each day as the calendar went by that we were getting closer. 437 Was there some implication that because the Senate or the Congress might extend the statute of limitations that it wouldn't pose a problem, or even if we didn't extend the statute, that the problem,Mr. ALTMAN. I recall Ms. Kulka saying that she would make her decision by February 28. 1 don't recall any discussion about the prospects. Senator DODD. There was no problem about having an adequate amount of information and the whole question of section 11, the fear of a decision that would impact the RTC's not bringing a case that was backed up by adequate evidence. Mr. ALTMAN. She said she would make her decision by the 28th, and as you know, the RTC has options to preserve its basis. It can file a claim in court to preserve it's basis or it can seek a tolling agreement, but I was never told somehow that there wouldn't be enough time to complete the investigation and that would somehow lead to a lapse of the statute of limitations deadline. I was never told anything at all like that. Senator DODD. You had some talking points Senator SASSER. Mr. Chairman, could Mr. Altman pull that microphone a little closer. I'm having trouble hearing. The CHAIRMAN. That would be helpful, and also time has run if you'd like to finish that out Senator Dodd.