August 2, 1994 - Part 4
August 2, 1994 - Part 4
(11:50:19) Mr. STEINER. Only through press accounts, Senator, and I have to admit I have not read those press accounts very carefully. Senator BOND. Let me ask because the press accounts raised some real questions about the ethics. Who would have the authority to order that those transcripts be turned over? Was that done by the Secretary? Mr. STEINER. I'm not familiar, Senator. I have not been involved in the investigation, for obvious reasons. Senator BOND. Based on your other experience at the Treasury, is it standard operating procedure to share internal investigative reports either with the White House or with other agencies? Mr. STEINER. I have not been involved in many Inspector General investigations. I would say two points, though. The first is that the Inspector General acts independently and that this Department respects the Inspector General's independence. I don't believe anyone would be in a position to order him to do anything. Second, it is my understanding that they do cooperate, as appropriate, with other ongoing investigations. 396 Senator BOND. Thus, if the Inspector General did not on his own turn it over, then somebody was actually directing how the investigation of the Inspector General was being carried out. Is that 8, fair conclusion? Mr. STEINER. I'm not sure I understand your question, Senator. Senator BOND. You say that you don't mess around with an Inspector General investigation. That's appropriate. Why don't you mess around with it? Mr. STEINER. I want to maintain the Inspector General's independence. Senator BOND. You want to maintain the Inspector General's independence. Then, if somebody told the Inspector General to turn over those depositions or those interviews to the White House, that would be compromising the Inspector General's independence, would it not? Mr. STEINER. No, sir, I do not believe so. First of all, I don't believe anyone would tell the Inspector General to do anything. Second of all if a request or suggestion was made, the Inspector General could, at his own volition, say it was inappropriate. I believe the issue would stop there. Senator BOND. Mr. Foreman, you're the ethics guru. Is it appropriate to turn over interview documents to the White House to enable the White House Counsel to put together the story on the Whitewater? Does that meet the ethics smell test? Mr. FOREMAN. Senator, I did not take any part in that decision. My understanding is the Inspector General made that decision. Senator BOND. All by himself? Mr. FOREMAN. I do not know---I do not know what consultations went on. What I understand is that---I should say the Deputy In- spector General who is----there's no confirmed Inspector General yet at the Department. But the Deputy Inspector General, my under- standing, made that decision while under some arrangement with the White House Counsel, Mr. Cutler, for his limited investigatory purposes for the White House. That's all I know. Senator BOND. And they didn't ask you by your leave, did they. Mr. FOREMAN. Senator, I've tried to stay away from the kinds of questions the last few weeks that somehow might have some relationship to me as a witness. Senator BOND. But the handling of an investigation by the Treasury and that kind of ongoing internal operation should be, granted the fact that your testimony was turned over, but isn't that the kind of procedure that comes within the purview of your office? Mr. FOREMAN. I do not try to advise the Inspector General unless be asks me questions on ethics matter, sir. is that idea sprang out Senator BOND. So what you're telling me, is of the Inspector General's operation and did not come as a request or direction from an official in the Treasury Department? Mr. FOREMAN. Sir, I don't know. Senator BOND. Mr. Foreman, let me just ask you one last thing Senator Hatch laid the groundwork about the viewing that you did with Ms. Hanson of the now infamous questions and answers. Did you review the questions that Ms. Hanson wrote down at the time? Did you see what she wrote down? 397 Mr. FOREMAN. I remember her writing on the desk. I may have seen the first few words. I don't remember-I don't remember read the questions and answers, sir. I don't. Senator BOND. What, if you recall, did she say as you watched that? Mr. FOREMAN. I don't recall her saying anything other than very carefully trying to write down the questions and answers. Senator BOND. What did you say? Mr. FOREMAN. I don't remember saying anything. I remember