July 18, 1995 - Part 2
July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(10:55:10) There are, however, a few parameters which should guide our deliberation during the Whitewater hearings. First, we should attempt to ascertain all of the facts in an impartial manner without prejudging the outcome. I think the colloquy that we've just engaged in, in terms of the request for the polygraph or lie detector results of Maggie Williams, is an example of that, It's my understanding, as the Chairman and the Ranking, Member have indicated, that both have joined in a request for those results and to dispute any notion that there is a withholding on the part of the Administration or Ms. Williams. We've been informed orally, as I understand it, by Special Counsel that that information is not 22 going to be provided to us at this time. I think that's illustrative of the thing we should try to avoid in these proceedings. Let's hear the facts, get them all out on the table and then reach the conclusions as we will. Second, a guiding principle is we ought not to jeopardize or compromise the investigation of the Independent Counsel, Mr. Starr, There will be a proper time and place for all the facts to come to light, and we should not do anything in the course of this hearing that would in any way compromise that investigation. Let me conclude that the stage of the hearings we are in at this time is not only clearly defined, but quite narrow and specific. The Committee is charged with, according to the resolution, "whether improper conduct occurred by White House officials in the handling of documents in the office of White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster." That is the issue before us at this time. Mr. Chairman, I would like to compliment you and the Ranking Member, Senator Sarbanes. I must say that I approach the hearings with an auspicious sense that we can conduct these hearings as you, as the Ranking Member, and our Chairman last year, Senator Riegle, did in developing the facts, Then we can reach the conclusions based upon the record that's developed, ' not upon some of the wild theories and gossip that have been spread around concerning this circumstance. Finally, let me compliment the Administration for their cooperation in turning over documents and assisting the hearing. (10:57:40)(tape #10108 ends) I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and getting on with our investigation, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Bryan. We'll turn to Senator Bond. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER S. BOND Senator BOND. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. As we continue our effort to get the facts of the so-called Whitewater affair out on the table, some people ask me why are we continuing to do this. People want to know whether there is a smoking gun, are there 17 minutes of erased tape, are there plumbers, or was there money diverted to pay for foreign wars? That is not the point. But many people to date have thought that Whitewater is too many people and too many phrases like criminal referrals, redactions and recusals. Today we are going to focus on, and in the following days we are going to focus on, the activities around a very tragic and very regrettable event, the suicide of Vincent Foster. This suicide triggered late-night searches, documents disappearing and a laundry list of conflicting stories as to who took what, when, and why. This clearly, as has been indicated, was an emotional and heart-wrenching time for the people involved-they have our sympathies, as does the family. But over the next several weeks, this Committee is going to be faced with a choice of believing accounts of career law enforcement officials or the stories of White House officials and the propriety or the impropriety of activities that were undertaken. I think everyone should understand that what has been the current of Whitewater since the beginning is showing up here once again. 23 Contrary to what my good friends from Connecticut and Nevada have said about this being a case of complete cooperation and open and full disclosure by the White House, it has not been such. The initial stories of the Administration at nearly every step of the way, and in some instances in which I was directly involved before this very Committee, have proven to be incomplete, inaccurate or just plain untrue. It seems to be that only after pressure from Congress and the media-and I commend them for their efforts--does the truth slowly but surely trickle out. That is why we have to continue to have these hearings because we have not gotten the full story, and we still need to get that story.