August 4, 1994 - Part 10
August 4, 1994 - Part 10
(20:40:53) In your view, is that an adequate follow up to the question that I asked, which was who told the White I-louse of the criminal referrals? Mr. PODESTA. Senator, I would have written a different letter. I think that you asked very specific questions. We were concerned about that. We wanted, we wanted that record to be corrected. What I said earlier was that I thought in the context of what was going on that the information that you had requested was out there. I assumed it was in this letter, I think if this letter was the only thing that you had received without context or anything else, I think it's, you know The CHAIRMAN. You think what-I'm sorry, what did you say? I didn't hear that last word. Mr. PODESTA. I think that it would-you'd need to connect the dots, going back to your questions and looking at those two meetings, The CHAIRMAN. But that's not what he asked you, he asked you whether the letter senator BOND. Did that letter answer the question I asked at the February 24th hearing? Mr. PODESTA. I think you have to go back to your questions to understand. Senator BOND. My question was, who advised the White House of the criminal referrals? 438 Mr. PODESTA. And in my view, the responsive answer would have been the meeting on the 29th and Senator BOND. The answer should have been Jean Hanson. If you believe Ms. Hanson, it was Jean Hanson at Mr. Altman's direction, If you believe Mr. Altman, it was Jean Hanson on her own. The problem Mr. PODESTA. Yes. Senator BOND [continuing]. The problem, Mr. Chairman, is that throughout this we were not able to get a straight answer from Mr. Altman. Mr. Podesta was tasked to make sure this was done. I know Mr. Podesta from having worked with him on the Agriculture Committee. He's very thorough. When he says he's going to follow up he normally does, But I have to tell you, Mr. Podesta, that the failure to answer the simple question which I think would have been devastating had it been properly answered, the failure to follow up on this tells me too much about the attitude of Mr. Altman and perhaps the White House. Mr. PODESTA. Well, Senator, I think I answered earlier with regard to the White House which is that we brought this to Mr. Altman's attention. I understood the next day that a letter had been sent and the Chairman had been called. I did not see the text of the letter. The following day there were newspaper stories that noted Ms. Hanson, noted the criminal referrals. I thought this matter had been taken care of. When I finally saw the letter, which was sometime later-I think, now I take your point. Senator BOND. Mr. Podesta, you're better than that. I've seen you follow up and you do better work than that. Senator KERRY. The Senator may also remember that the entire process was interrupted by the Grand Jury on the 5th of March I think it was. The CHAIRMAN. The record should Senator BOND. The dog ate my homework doesn't get it. The CHAIRMAN. The record should be clear that they got the proper information to The Washington Post, that's been the testimony here today. They just didn't get the proper information to us; isn't that correct, Mr. Podesta? Mr. PODESTA. I think that's a fair statement. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you. Senator DODD. I'm prepared to ask a question but I think Senator Kerry The CHAIRMAN. I think Senator Kerry has been waiting and is next in the line of march here. Senator KERRY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to use my time to try and clarify where we were earlier, particularly with respect to my friend from New Mexico, and see if he and I can't get a better understanding here. What disturbs me a little bit is that there's a process where some theories are being propounded, and that's fine. It's all fair game. And questions are being asked to support the theory but the questions and the theory are not based on the evidence, on the full evidence, and so you wind up leaving the impression with the public that there's some line or avenue here that is not in fact documented by where we've been. 439