July 25, 1995 - Part 5
July 25, 1995 - Part 5
(15:10:51)(tape #10124 begins) 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? (15:13:47)(tape #10123 ends) So I am not going to go into any more excruciating detail of minute by minute here. I think we've explored that pretty thoroughly here today and with your depositions, but I have asked our previous witnesses, those who are pertinent to this, the question I'm going to ask each and every one of you, and I'll ask you to respond to this. Obviously you are all sworn witnesses, and you took the oath when you came in here this morning. Let me start with you, Mr. Gearan, if I can, with the four basic questions that I'm going to ask of every single person who comes before this Committee who were involved or potentially involved with this issue that is the subject of this set of hearings. Now, my colleagues have already raised some of them, but I want to tighten them right down here if I can. I want to know on or after July 20, 1993, which is the date of Vincent Foster's suicide, did anyone ask you or instruct you to destroy any documents from Vincent Foster's office? Mr. GEARAN. No, Senator. Senator DODD. On or after July 20, 1993, did you destroy, yourself, any documents from Vincent Foster's office? Mr. GEARAN. No, Senator. Senator DODD. On or after July 20, 1993, did anyone ask you or instruct you to conceal from law enforcement officials any documents from Vincent Foster's office'? Mr. GEARAN. No, Senator. Senator DODD. Did anyone at any time ask you or instruct you to take any action to impede, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with law enforcement's investigation into Vincent Foster's suicide? Mr. GEARAN, No, Senator, Senator DODD. Ms. Mathews, I'm going to ask you the same set of four questions. On or after July 20, 1993, Vincent Foster's death, did anyone ask you or instruct you to destroy any documents from Vincent Foster's office? MS. MATHEWS. No, sir. Senator DODD. Did you destroy any documents from Vincent Foster's office? MS. MATHEWS. No, sir. Senator DODD. Did anyone ask you or instruct you to conceal from law enforcement officials any documents from Vincent Foster's office? MS. MATHEWS. No, sir. Senator DODD. Did anyone at any time ask you or instruct you to impede, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with law enforcement's investigation of Vincent Foster's suicide? MS. MATHEWS. No, sir. 306 Senator DODD. Finally, Mr. Watkins, the very same questions. Did anyone ask you or instruct you to destroy any documents from Vincent Foster's office? Mr. WATKINS. No, Senator. Senator DODD. Did you destroy any documents from Vincent Foster's office? Mr. WATKINS. No, Senator. Senator DODD. Did anyone ask you or instruct you to conceal from law enforcement officials any documents from Vincent Fos. ter's office? Mr. WATKINS. No, Senator. Senator DODD. Last, at any time did anyone ask you or instruct you to take any action to impede, obstruct, or interfere with law enforcement's investigation of the suicide of Vincent Foster?