August 10, 1995 - Part 1
August 10, 1995 - Part 1
(11:00:15) Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Let me direct your attention to Park Police Exhibit 29, which is Mr. Markland's report of his interview of you of July 21, 1993, and direct your attention to the third paragraph 1327 Would you read that? Can you? I see you don't have a hard copy. Let me read it. This is not an eye test, Mr. Nussbaum. Mr. NUSSBAUM. Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Mr. Markland said: On July 20, 1993, after Vincent Foster's death became known to him, Mr. NUSSBAUM. responded back to the White House where he went through Mr. Foster's office with Patsy Thomasson and Maggie Williams. I take it you did not use the words, "I responded back to the White House." That's kind of police lingo. Mr. NUSSBAUM. No, I didn't use that language. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. But you went to the White House? Mr. NUSSBAUM. I went to the White I-louse. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Again, here it appears that Detective Markland has simply made an error in confusing your name with that of Mr. Foster, but what I'm sure he meant was "Mr. Nussbaum stated Mr. NUSSBAUM. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. -that they conducted a brief, quick search to see if Mr. Foster may have left a suicide note on his desk;"' correct? Mr. NUSSBAUM. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So it is clear that you did not attempt to keep the fact that you, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Thomasson had been in the office the night before to conduct the search from the police? Mr. NUSSBAUM. That is correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. YOU told them at the first opportunity You had? Mr. NUSSBAUM. That is correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Then it goes on to say, "This search lasted from 2200 to 2400 hours." I take it you would not under any circumstances have been using military time, but this indicates that the search lasted 2 hours, between 10:00 and 12:00 p.m. Is that the case, or is that simply an error? Mr. NUSSBAUM. That is an error. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. I believe Mr. Markland, Mr. Chairman, has cleared that up in his deposition and has recognized that that was an error. "Mr. Nussbaum stated no documents were removed from the office." I take it that is something which you did, in fact, tell Detective Markland? Mr. NUSSBAUM. That is true. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. That was true at the time and, I take it from your testimony, is true now? Mr. NUSSBAUM. It was true at the time, and it is true now. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, yesterday, a question came up with respect to Mr. Burton's notes, which were identified in documents produced by the White House to this Committee as Z514. Could we put that up, please. Z514 was described by Mr. Burton as a note which he thinks he wrote on or about July 28 or 29. This would have been in the days after the torn-up note was discovered by Mr. Neuwirth and yourself. Yesterday, you were asked some questions about this. Mr- Burton testified that this note is properly interpreted as saying, "far happier if discussed" or "disclosed if someone other than Bernie." Mr. Gergen testified before this Committee in open hearings that there were discussions with the Justice Department once the note 1328 had been discovered and turned over about who and under what circumstances the contents of the note would be disclosed-who would disclose it and under what circumstances. Do you recall that that had occurred? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Mr. Gergen's testimony was that he believed' this reference--since he was one of the participants in this meet- ing-that this reference related to the fact that the Justice Department was concerned that no one other than the Park Police should be the ones who would be in charge of disclosing the contents. Does that comport with your recollection? Mr. NUSSBAUM. Yes, that makes sense to me.