August 4, 1994 - Part 10
August 4, 1994 - Part 10
(19:55:25) With regard to how, then, he corrected the record and the taking of the four letters to address all those points, I think I've already said that I think that would have been better handled had it been done the next day in one letter and more specifically. Senator SHELBY. Mr. Podesta, it would have been better handled if he had told the whole accounting.of the situation candidly in the Banking hearing, would it not? Mr. PODESTA. It would certainly had been better if he had given a whole accounting. The only thing I'm quibbling with you about, Senator, is that I think my impression on March 1st was he thought that he had been candid on the 24th to the extent of his knowledge. Senator SHELBY. Does that-is that backed up by Mr. Steiner's diary when he said he gracefully ducked the question and did not refer to phone calls he had had and so forth? Mr. PODESTA, No. Senator SHELBY. In other words, what you're saying here, your impression of Mr. Altman, the way he felt Mr. PODESTA. Was just Senator SHELBY. It was contrary to Mr. Steiner's diary. Mr. PODESTA. My only conversation with Mr. Altman was a single phone conversation on March 1st, and that's just my best impression. The CHAIRMAN. You gave him a heads-up, among other things, did you not? Mr. PODESTA. I ran through those three issues. Senator SHELBY. But you realize that you all had a real problem at the White House? Mr. PODESTA. At least with regard to the fall meetings, and I think with recusal, We knew we had a problem. 430 Senator SHELBY. With regard to Mr. Altman's testimony. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Shelby. Senator D'Amato. Senator D'AMATO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Ickes, do you have the depositions there you testified to? Mr. ICKES. I do. Senator D'AMATO. Would you turn to page 132. This refers towe're talking about the meeting of February 2nd and the question asked you is "what did Mr. Altman say about recusal?" Your answer: "The gist of what he said, and this came toward the very latter part of the meeting and was-I think the bulk of the meeting was taken up with his presentation and our questions and his answers and discussions about the investigation and its relationship to the statute of limitations." Is that true? Mr. ICKES. What? Senator DAMATO. Is that true? Mr. ICKES. As I testified, yes. Senator DAMATO. Now, a few minutes ago when you were answering Senator Domenici's questions, you testified that Altman had taken himself out of the decisionmaking chain; is that true? Mr. ICKES. That's the best of my recollection, Senator. Senator D'AMATO. Just a few. minutes ago Mr. ICKES. Could I just finish my answer, sir? Senator DAMATO. Certainly. Mr. ICKES. The best of my recollection, is during the course of that meeting, I recall him saying that he was going to abide by whatever or follow whatever recommendations were made by the staff attorneys. Senator D'AMATO. And he was taking himself out of the decisionmaking chain? Mr. ICKES. I don't know if I wanted to--I don't know if he used those exact words. That may be my interpretation, Senator, but I do recall him saying that he intended to abide by whatever recommendations would be made by the staff attorneys. Senator D'AMATO. Thank you. Would you continue reading page 132, go to line 8. Mr. ICKES. Where do you want me to pick up, sir? Senator D'AMATO. Line 8. Follow with me. Toward the latter part of the meeting, he brought up that he was considering recusing himself in connection with this matter and as recall, it was because he, as the acting chairman or the President, would ultimately have to determine whether or not to implement a recommendation, if any, made by the general counsel's office with respect to this investigation. Whether or not. Mr. ICKES. I don't think that's inconsistent with what I said, Senator DAmato. Senator D'AMATO. OK. That's fine. Mr. Stephanopoulos, I'm going to ask you, and this is important because it's your testimony under oath before Congress-is it your testimony now that you never suggested that Mr. Steiner or Mr. Altman find a way to fire or get rid of Mr. Stephens? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. I don't remember anything like that at all, sir. 431 Senator DAMATO. That's not- Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. I've testified to that 100 times. Senator DAMATO. Mr. Chairman, this is not responsive, and we have continued now on this line.