August 2, 1994 - Part 6
August 2, 1994 - Part 6
(00:40:43) Mr. ALTMAN. The difference between this and a matter like the one you referred to is that I had been receiving-had begun to receive a lot of inquiries, including in writing from Congress, as to what procedures the RTC was going to follow, wanted to give them the same sense of those procedures that I was giving Members of Congress. I said to them nothing different than I've said to Members of Congress. Senator DOMENICI. I understand that, but I guess what I'm getting at is there must have been a reason for telling them that. Congress was just saying "the statute is going to run, what are you going to do." So you went over there to tell them we're going to apply the same thing we do in any other case? That's the "heads up" you were giving them? Mr. ALTMAN. That's right. Senator DOMENICI. Was it serious enough that you wanted them to know because there might be something that they would be confronted with that was untoward as you applied your ruing, like asking for a tolling agreement or filing a lawsuit? Mr. ALTMAN. Again, the essence of what we said was that the statute of limitations which then applied was scheduled to expire on February 28, 1994. The RTC was going to make every effort to make a decision by that date. It could fundamentally reach one only of two decisions: That there was a basis for a claim, or there. was not. If there was a basis for a claim, then we would either seek a tolling agreement to permit more discovery and more preparation, or we would file that claim in court. Senator DOMENICI. Well, the passage of the statute of limitations extension eliminates that problem, as you have already indicated. I guess, Mr. Chairman, I'm having a little difficulty with the explanation. One way of looking at it was that it was not a very meaningful or important meeting; that he was just doing this so that he would be able to tell Congress he had told them he's going to treat them the same way as others. I don't think a man--I know you fairly well, I don't think you would be going over there to just be able to send this letter to Senator DAmato that says I have told the White House that they're going to be treated the same way as other people. Mr. ALTMAN,. Senator, I did not know whether they knew of such procedures which, as I say, I was then communicating to Members of' Congress. It just seemed to me a little odd to explain to a Member of Congress that we're going to following X, Y, Z procedures and not have them ever be made aware of what those were. [Videotape ended.] The CHAIRMAN. That constitutes the four segments that fall into this area. Senator SARBANES. Could we see the first? I think others were interested as well, the first section of that segment, the answer to the Bond question. Senator BOXER. I thought it was the third tape. The CHAIRMAN. I think it's the third segment that was raised before. Is there an objection to doing that, running that segment again? All right, Run the third segment a second time if you would. [Videotape started.] Mr. ALTMAN. A list of the documents. Senator BOND. Is that the latest version? Mr. ALTMAN. This is just a list of what the documents are. There are 6,500 in total. Senator BOND, If you could make one available for the record, we'd like to have that . I appreciate it. Next, when did you become aware of the RTC recommendations that further criminal prosecution betaken against Madison? Mr. ALTMAN. Last fall, I was advised that the question of a referral to the Justice Department was under consideration at the RTC. And as other members of the RTC staff will attest, I said that normal procedures with no deviation whatsoever should be pursued, including chain of command procedures, in terms of reaching that con clusion. I might tell you that typically decisions like that are made at the regional office level and it was in this case. 426 Senator BOND. Were you aware that the regional office had asked the national office to make a determination as to whether the Clintons' name should be in the new expanded referral? Mr. ALTMAN. No. Senator BOND. You did not know that they were asking for the national office to make a determination on that? Mr. ALTMAN. No, I was simply informed that this issue was an the table and my reaction was I had only one conversation about it, that normal procedure should be' followed. That's the way we're going to handle this thing to the very end.