August 2, 1994 - Part 10
August 2, 1994 - Part 10
(00:30:34) Mr. ALTMAN. Senator Senator GRAMM. What relevance, what possible relevance, could this have to her? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, first of all, all we're talking about is how the meeting came about, not what was at the meeting. Senator GRAMM. I'm sorry, please, just answer my question. What possible relevance could anything you have-could have said to her about the RTC or recusal, what possible relevance could it have to her? Mr. ALTMAN. Again, Senator, I believe I called Mr. Ickes and I had this conversation primarily with Mr. Ickes. Let me point out to you, you have sworn testimony from the participants in the February 2 meeting, some of whom say the meeting took lace in Mr. Nussbaum's office and some of whom say it took place in Mr. McLarty's office. Senator GRAMM. Well, I don't have any such disputes on this particular meeting. I have all of these different 515 Mr. ALTMAN. I'm just pointing out, people can recollect these differently. I don't dispute the essence of the meeting. I just things happen to think I called Mr. Ickes. Senator SARBANES. Senator Sasser. Senator SASSER. You know, sometimes I think Mr. Chairman we could save a lot of time here if we can excuse the witnesses and let the Senators make their speeches and read the record and give their interpretation of the record. I think that might get through these hearings faster and don't even need the witnesses make our points. Let me see if I can be brief. The hour is late and Mr. Altman has been sitting in this Chair now, for what, almost 8 hours. Mr. Altman, at the February 2 meeting-and this is the big meeting in Mr. McLarty's office Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir. Senator SASSER. -Did Mr. Nussbaum or anyone else make any effort to influence the RTCs consideration of bringing civil litigation on the Madison question? Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir. Senator SASSER. Well, let me ask you this: Are you aware of any effort by anyone in the Administration, on the outside of the RTC, impede the RTC from submitting its criminal referrals to the Justice Department on this matter? Mr. ALTMAN, No, sir. Senator SASSER. Are you aware of any effort by anyone in the administration, outside of the RTC, to influence-are you aware of effort by anyone in the Administration to impede the RTC from submitting the criminal referrals to the Justice Department? Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir. As you know, I don't believe there's a shred evidence to the effect that the criminal referrals were delayed, compromised, altered, or affected whatsoever, Senator SASSER. The criminal referrals were, in fact, made to Justice? Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir. Senator SASSER. Now have you read these criminal referrals? Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir. Senator SASSER. Have you read any of the substantive papers on which the referrals were based? ALTMAN. No, sir. Senator SASSER. To your knowledge, did the RTC handle the Madison referral any differently than the way it handles other re- ALTMAN. No, sir. Senator SASSER. Now, Mr. Altman, Senator Dodd, I thought, did job sort of giving some perspective to this whole conbut when you became Interim Chief Executive Offi- the RTC on March 16, 1993, how long did you expect to hold position? ALTMAN. Only until the Administration's nominee for permanent chairperson was confirmed, and I thought that would be and then I could leave after a short time, As you know--- say "as you know"--- didn't want the job. I knew it was Senator SASSER. The RTC was a bag of worms, right? 516 Mr. ALTMAN. I knew that. Senator SASSER. And not many people wanted to be associated with the RTC. Mr. ALTMAN. But I thought it would be pretty quick and we get our nominee up pretty soon after that, but it ran into trouble and didn't work. Senator SASSER. All right now. During this period in 199 much time were you -spending on the business of the Res Trust Corporation? Mr. ALTMAN. We typically bad biweekly staff meetings. Senator SASSER. Yes, about 4 hours a week, I think you said. Mr. ALTMAN. Three or 4 hours. Senator SASSER. Three or 4 hours a week. Now during this period of time, I remember seeing you here in the Capitol on a num0 ber of occasions when the Administration was getting its budget approved which took up a large portion of 1993. Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, Sir.