July 25, 1995 - Part 4
July 25, 1995 - Part 4
(15:10:30) Senator MURRAY. I also understood you to say that you stopped looking through the commingled burn bag for two reasons: because you learned that Foster had no burn bag in his office, and because you learned that the commingled burn bag contained sensitive, classified material from the West Wing; is that correct? Ms. MATHEWS. Yes, I stopped looking because of the sensitivity, We put the bag away after we found out about the Vincent Foster part, that there wasn't one in his office. Senator MURRAY. Thank you. I wanted to clarify that. Mr. Watkins, it was my understanding you described the general scene of the Foster family home as one of chaos; is that correct? Mr. WATKINS. It was, it was one of great confusion, yes, Senator, Senator MURRAY. It's not surprising in that kind of a situation. Mr. WATKINS. No. Senator MURRAY. Was it your perception that Mrs. Foster was very anxious to find a note explaining what her husband's state of mind was? Mr. WATKINS. Mrs. Foster was interested in getting an explanation of why, and a note, we thought, might have done that. Senator MURRAY. Were other people expressing that same feeling, that a note may explain the unexplainable? Mr. WATKINS. Yes, there was some general discussion about a note. Senator MURRAY. Would you have supported efforts to get to the bottom of the reasons for Mr. Foster's suicide? Mr. WATKINS. I'm sorry? Senator MURRAY. Were you looking for a way to get to the bottom of Mr. Foster's suicide? Mr. WATKINS. Yes. Senator MURRAY. You too were looking for Mr. WATKINS. Yes, my personal question to myself was why, why did Vince do this. Senator MURRAY. Did you have any reason to impede an investigation into his suicide? Mr. WATKINS. Absolutely none. Senator MURRAY. Did you have any reason to stop police officers from searching for a note? Mr. WATKINS. Absolutely none. Senator MURRAY. Wouldn't you say that the opposite is the case, that you would have been all relieved to find a note at that point? Mr. WATKINS. Yes. Senator MURRAY. Thank you. One other, thing. When you spoke with Patsy Thomasson, did you ever discuss files in Vince's office? Mr. WATKINS. I did not. Senator MURRAY. Did you know what was in his files in his office, by any chance? Mr. WATKINS. No, I had no idea. Senator MURRAY. None to your knowledge. Mr. WATKINS. No. Senator MURRAY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll yield back my time. Senator SARBANES. Senator Dodd. Senator DODD. Just very briefly, Mr. Chairman, because I know we want to move on, I think, to the next panel of witnesses. Let 305 me thank all three of you for your testimony here today, and I would just say to all three of you that we've obviously heard a lot of characterizations and of how these events or actions were carried out. Some have talked about it as late night searches and rummaging around, uncontrolled rummaging and so forth, and to hide materials and the like. The heart of the question, I guess, for all of us here, is obviously was there any obstruction? Were there people trying to hide or conceal the materials or destroy materials that would otherwise be relevant to this Committee?