August 4, 1994 - Part 10
August 4, 1994 - Part 10
(20:35:36) The CHAIRMAN. Let me check and see. I think we have an answer on that, but I want to check with Counsel who is away at the moment and provide that answer. Let's put that issue aside for the moment. Senator BOND. I was going to try, Mr. Podesta, to go back to what we were discussing several days ago when I last talked with you. Mr. PODESTA, It feels like that. Senator BOND. Mr. Todd Stern reports to you at the White House; is that correct? Mr. PODESTA. He does. Senator BOND. We have, in the documents submitted to us, Exhibit X 000075 which was produced by Mr. Stern, Senate Banking Committee hearing "to-do" list. And in this it's pretty clear that, at least, Mr. Stern wanted Mr. Altman to focus and here's just a couple of bullets. I'm just going to read excerpts. Mr. PODESTA. Could I get a copy, Senator? Senator BOND. Yes, there's a set. "Altman's failure to recuse himself, the nature of the RTC's investigation of Madison, is investigation continuing, what is going on, question mark. Criminal referral to Justice, what were circumstances, is RTC going to pursue any civil relief," skipping down, "were Madison resources directed into other business ventures and principals in the Clinton campaign funds." Next bullet, chronology of RTC investigation of Madison, who did what, when, and why were referrals made to Justice, what if anything is going on now, et cetera." It even goes on to give a little political flavor. It said "is Treasury working on questions for committee Dems, line up a Senator or two" and they referenced a couple of Senators "have a page or two of background plus questions for the counterpunches." Do you happen to know those counterpunches? Do you have any of those counterpunches available for us that you might share with us? Seriously, well, I assume if you had counterpunches, you'd show them to us, but do you know, was this matter followed up on by Mr. Stern? Do you know what was done with it, was it used in telephone briefings, oral briefings? Mr. PODESTA. Senator, let me testify first to my knowledge which is that while I saw this document in my deposition, I said that I may have received it. It might have been the kind of thing I got, but I wasn't familiar with it. I would point out that with regard to the bullets you read, it says "prepare witness" says next to that 69 is Mike Levy, the Treasury person." I did not talk to Mr. Levy about any of the items on this list. I did mention to Mr. Levy that Mr. Altman would be-- would need to be prepared to answer ques- 437 tions about recusal. I don't know whether Mr. Stern did, I do not believe he did, but I'm not-I can't testify for him. Senator BOND. This shows that, at least, Mr. Stern believed that Mr. Altman should be prepared to address criminal referral to Justice, what the circumstances were and those other items. So this was something the White House was focusing on and I assume that when Mr. Stern prepares a memo like this, he does something with it. Mr. PODESTA. Well, I senator BOND. Is that logical to assume? Mr. PODESTA. I think it would be logical to assume with regard to the bottom couple of points which were the ones in our office relating to counterpunches. Again, I testified earlier that we wanted to put the hearing in a broader context. I think that's what-it's not my word, but I think that's what he was referring to, to try to put Madison in the context of the overall S&L cleanup and our Administration's Senator BOND. My point is the White House, your associate, Mr. Stern, was focusing on the criminal referrals and you forecast the questions that we were going to ask. I mean, if this had been fully utilized in the briefing, Mr. Altman would have been ready. Now, following up on the questions, Senator Bryan asked some questions, and Senator Gramm did. You said that "we had a duty and he had a duty to correct the record. I was tasked to follow up," You said, "I assumed his letter had been sufficient." I went back and read through these four letters and this was the letter of March 2 and it said in the third paragraph, "but I have learned today of two conversations which did take place between Treasury and White House personnel on this matter. My information is that both related to the handling of press inquiries."