July 20, 1995 - Part 4
July 20, 1995 - Part 4
(13:05:07) OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR PAUL SIMON Senator SIMON. First, I would just like to underscore what Senator Kerry mentioned about the note that was found. There is no reason why anyone would want to delay finding the note. There is nothing in the content of the note to suggest this. Major Hines, Detective Markland is one of the Park Police; is that correct? Mr. HINES. Yes, he is. Senator SIMON. In your deposition, you say that you remember Detective Markland stating that he watched whoever it was search that briefcase. Question: Bernie Nussbaum, does that ring a bell? Answer: Well, it was Nussbaum or one of his aides. Nussbaum was there. He watched- he, that is, Detective Markland watched him search that briefcase, and they didn't see anything. I think it simply underscores that there is no attempt to hide anything here. Major Hines, let me read from your deposition of June 21, and I'm going to skip a few sentences in here, but if I take them out of context, and I'm trying not to, you correct me. The question is asked of you, "Do you feel that there was obstruction of your investigation?" Answer: I take it, by what you said, that means You interrupt and say: Based on what I know, I would say not, Based on what I personally know, I would say no. Question: OK Do you have--do you feel there is any evidence of obstruction? Answer: I don't think SO. I'm just saying based on what I know about the case. Question: Sure. It would be ?air to say that this could have been handled differently. This could have been handled better? Answer: It could have been handled better, 204 Is that still an accurate reflection of your views? Mr. HINES. That is still my reflection. As far as the legal evidence of proof and obstruction of justice, I feel we would have a hard time to make such a case in this instance on the search of that office. But I think things could have been handled better. Senator SIMON. If someone were to ask you is what happened simply some sloppiness, or is there a conspiracy to cover up, what would your answer be? Mr. HINES. I don't feel there's a conspiracy, but I feel that we had a perception at that time. Our perception was why don't we have a little bit more cooperation, and we've always said that. Senator SIMON, It could have been handled better, in your words, but you do not feel there was some conspiracy taking place? Mr. HINES, Yes, Senator, that's my feelings. Senator SIMON. Let me read, Mr. Rolla, from your deposition on June 20. The question was asked: "Were there statements you saw in the media that were"--did you see statements in the media about the Park Police moving the body or something along those lines? Answer: Yes. Question: What was the reaction to those type of press stories in your office? Answer: First, when it came out in the New York Post-it's a rag of a newspaper anyway; they're laughable. but, as they persisted and spread to other newspapers, it was very frustrating, quite angry, angered at our officials, our higher officials for not stepping up and holding a news conference and saying hey, this is all bull. We've already closed this case out. This is a result of the investigation, You're wel- come to see them, whatever else. That didn't happen. And, thus, we took a beating. The name Park and Park Police indicating we were a bunch of park rangers that didn't know what we were doing. Well, that's not the case. We work in urban areas, in New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco. And we're not rangers. And rangers do a fine job where we're at. But we work in urban areas, and as you know, because I've worked with you as a U.S. Attorney, we handle the same things that every police department handles-to a lesser degree because of our jurisdiction, but we're also smaller. So, on a scale, same scale, we handle quite a few incidents, major and minor. So it's frustrating. It was annoying. I don't know how many times to how many police officers, other friends, relatives or other people-I people--whether they're to explain this case to. And listening to the radio stations, G. Gordon Liddy and Rush Limbaugh, it's very annoying being slammed like that when people that listen to them have no idea who we are and then believe all that crap. So that's very annoying, very frustrating.