July 25, 1995 - Part 3
July 25, 1995 - Part 3
(12:05:42) Senator MACK. But these files that we now have came from a whole series of other files that were in Foster's office, not one file. I mean, the White House kept referring to this one file; in fact, all the way up to last week. These documents came from a whole series of files in Foster's office. Do you agree with that? Mr. GEARAN. Senator, I'm not aware of the actual volume of the files that you're referencing or how considerable they are or are not. I've never seen, personally, the files that you are referring to. Senator MACK. Looking again at the President's statement, we also know that Foster was actively working on the First Couple's tax returns in the spring of 1993, which is well after he came to the White House. So the part of the statement that the President 283 makes where he says Foster's files related to work he had done before he came to the White House isn't correct either, is it? Mr. GEARAN. Senator, I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to, but my understanding is that at the time of Mr. Foster's death, he had files on many things as he had been involved with the Clintons' legal work prior to their service in Washington. Senator MACK. Lot me ask you a question. You are saying, even today, you are saying that Foster did not have any Whitewater files in his office? Mr. GEARAN. Senator, I don't know the range of the files that existed in Mr. Foster's office. It did not become an issue certainly in this period of time that we're discussing today in and around his death. I'm aware that at the time of his death he was doing the requisite kind of financial disclosure reports and other personal matters associated with the President's official role as President; relevant reports, financial disclosure reports, I believe the blind trust as well. Senator MACK. Again, I find it difficult-and maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Maybe we're talking past each other, but what you are saying is as of this day, you are still saying that, as far as you were concerned, there were no White water- related files in Vince Foster's office at the time of his death? Mr. GEARAN. Senator, I have no reason, I have no personal basis on which to make that judgment. I'm aware that, at the time of his death and afterwards in the search, that different files were sorted out by Mr. Nussbaum: Those files relevant to official White House business, those files personally associated with Mr. Foster himself, and those personal files to the Clintons. I'm aware of the distribution of those files from his office. Senator MACK. Is it your belief, without having personally seen these, from what you've heard from others, that there were Whitewater files in Vince Foster's office? Mr. GEARAN. I have no reason to doubt that, Senator. Senator MACK, Again, these are statements that were made on December 22nd. I'm now moving to December 23rd. After the President had released Whitewater documents to the Justice Department, you stated that Federal investigators had not requested them; but rather they were furnished voluntarily. You went on to say that, and again I quote, "at no time did anyone, anywhere, anyhow ever remotely suggest that there was any impropriety regarding the President and Mrs. Clinton's investments." I'm going to ask that document number 234 be placed for view. We see Mr. Foster's notes reflecting that he was concerned about the connection between Madison Guaranty and Whitewater. He asked, "Was McDougal trying to circumvent bank loss? Why HRC is getting loans from others." When you made that earlier statement about anyone anywhere remotely suggesting impropriety, were you aware that Mr. Foster was thinking about these things? Mr. GEARAN. No, Senator, Senator MACK. As the press and communications pointman on Whitewater, did you know that he was wondering if the First Lady was getting loans from others and how this related to covering losses at Madison? 284 Mr. GEARAN. I was not aware of this writing, no, Senator. Senator Mack. Would you agree that you and other White House officials generally relied upon the 1992 report prepared by Jim Lyons when you stated that the Clintons initially invested $68,000 in Whitewater? Mr. GEARAN. Senator, I was not the principal person responding to the press on matters associated with Whitewater. I never personally schooled myself in the details. But my understanding during the course of the campaign is that that's how it was handled Senator MACK. Later, you had to revise the estimate-maybe I've got this wrong-you are indicating that you-let me finish the statement. You tell me. You had to revise the estimate downward because the President and First Lady had actually only invested $46,000. Mr. GEARAN. Senator, at that point in time, that's a statement referencing to December, I was not the principal person dealing with the press on the details of the Whitewater matter.