August 9, 1995 - Part 2
August 9, 1995 - Part 2
(11:15:11) Mr. NUSSBAUM. At this hearing, you've had 4 or 5 people who were present at that meeting testify. You have me now. You had Steve Neuwirth. You had Cliff Sloan. You had Roger Adams. You have Agent Salter-5 people who were present at that meeting. Mrs. Monaco wasn't present and Mr. Heymann wasn't present. Out of those 5 people, Senator, I testified that I don't believe there was an agreement. Mr. Neuwirth has testified he doesn't believe there was an agreement. Mr. Sloan has testified he doesn't believe there was an agreement. Senator HATCH. He pretty much said he didn't know. Mr. NUSSBAUM. I believe Agent Salter testified that he doesn't recall an agreement. Mr. Adams has testified that he does believe there was an agreement. I think each of those people was testifying honestly. Senator HATCH. All right. So basically the three at the White House who served the President did not believe there was an agreement. These others believe there was? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Agent Salter-we all serve the President. Agent Salter serves the President. Roger Adams serves the President and the three of us Senator HATCH. I'm talking about as Counsel to the President, to use your terms. Let me move on. Susan Thomases, a New York attorney, testified before the Committee yesterday. You've told this Committee that you're familiar with her and her role as a close friend and outside advisor to the Clintons; right? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Yes. Senator HATCH. Did you talk to Ms. Thomases on July 22? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Yes. Senator HATCH. Do you remember how many times and 1220 Mr. NUSSBAUM. I only remember- Senator HATCH. -what times you did talk to her? Mr. NUSSBAUM. I only remember one conversation. Senator HATCH. Would it surprise you to know that you were paged by Ms. Thomases at 8:00 a,m. that morning? And if you remember that, did you return her call right away? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Nothing surprises me anymore, Senator, but I don't remember that. Senator HATCH. When you spoke with her that day, that one time that you do recall, you told this Committee that she said that she had "heard" that there were "discussions" and "disagreements" concerning law enforcement's search of the Foster office. She said that she was concerned that "law enforcement people" would have "unfettered access to the documents" in Foster's office. Is that correct? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Can you repeat that, Senator? Senator HATCH. Sure. The CHAIRMAN. I think, Senator, you might want to refer Mr." Nussbaum to his testimony. I think you have a copy there. Senator HATCH. Yes, I do. The CHAIRMAN. What page is that? Senator HATCH. Let's go to that page. The CHAIRMAN. Is that starting on page Senator HATCH. Page 54-154, I'm sorry. Page 154. Basically what you had said was that she had heard there were discussions and agreements. She was concerned that law enforcement people would have unfettered access to the documents and I think that's consistent with your testimony; right? Mr. NUSSBAUM. You're going a little too fast for me, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. Why don't we read it? Mr. NUSSBAUM. I am just trying to figure out the portion of my testimony here in my deposition testimony you're focusing on. Senator SARBANES. Would the Senator tell us what page you are on? The CHAIRMAN. That's what I'm attempting to ascertain. Senator HATCH. I think it's on page 154-140. I'm sorry. Senator KERRY. Pages 139 to 142. to the The CHAIRMAN. Of the deposition given by Mr. Nussbaum Committee? Senator KERRY. Correct. The CHAIRMAN. Let's see if we can't all get on the same page and give Mr. Nussbaum the opportunity to get there, too. Mr. NUSSBAUM. Page 140? The CHAIRMAN. Pages 139 to 142, 1 believe it is. Senator KERRY. Page 139 it starts. Mr. NUSSBAUM. I have it. think it says, Senator HATCH. You have it? I Question: What was the conversation on the 22nd wAnswer: The conversation on the 22nd is she asked me what was going on with to the investigation or the examina- respect to- what was going on with respect to tion-the examination of Mr. Foster's off-ice. She had heard there were discussions in the White House with respect to this issue, which there were on the 22nd-which you'll get to, I presume-was everything OK and what was going on and I said I am having discussions with people. See, I remember this conversation before the search, but it could have been after the search. 1221 That's one of my problems. But I remember saying, Susan, I've been talking to people in the White House, how the search would be conducted, I will determine what the right procedure is or I've determined what the right procedure is and I followed it, depending on if that conversations took place before or after the search. We're going to follow the procedure that I think is right, and that's the way-that's what I'm going to do and that's the kind, I think, that I'm determining is a proper way to act with respect to this matter. You were asked, Question: How long was the conversation? Answer.- A few minutes. Not very long. Question: Did she tell you how she had heard there were discussions concerning the manner in which the review would occur? Answer. The search would occur.