July 18, 1995 - Part 3
July 18, 1995 - Part 3
(12:50:33) Senator SARBANES. You moved her away because she was in a very difficult emotional state, is that it? Mr. HUBBELL. Yes. As I'm sure all of you unfortunately have been in circumstances where everybody is shocked and grieving, and one of the people told me that Sheila looked upset and frustrated like she was being cornered and they said go rescue Sheila. Senator SARBANES. How many people would you say were in the home? Mr. HUBBELL. Pretty soon-as you know, Mr. Foster's residence was not that small. They had a small living room. Senator SARBANES. You mean not that large. Mr. HUBBELL. Not that large. The room was full of people. We were wall-to- wall people that entire evening. Senator SARBANES. Mrs. Foster was upstairs primarily? Mr. HUBBELL. Primarily. She would come down to answer the phone and be consoled by others, but she went up and down the stairs, yes. Senator SARBANES. Richard, Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Mr. Hubbell, before I continue on with the chronology of events that occurred on July 20, 1993, 1 want to bring to closure one point that Mr. Chertoff was questioning you about. With respect to the 1992 campaign files, including materials that included inquiries and other materials about the Whitewater matter, it is your recollection that you had those materials in your possession through 1993, November, until you delivered those materials to Williams & Connolly or an authorized representative of that firm; is that correct, sir? Mr. HUBBELL. That is correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you know for a fact that Vincent Foster did not have those files in his office? Mr. HUBBELL. The campaign files that I had, Vince never had, that is correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, with respect to the evening of July 20, 1993, you were in the presence of the Park Police who were in the Foster home following their notification of Mrs. Foster; correct? Mr. HUBBELL. That is correct. 57 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. At any time did the Park Police, to your recollection request that they be allowed to search the home for any note or other thing? Mr. HUBBELL. No, they did not, to the best of my recollection. I recall asking them if they had to stay, They said they wanted to ask Mrs. Foster a few questions if she was able to do so and did we object to them staying, and of course not, I think, at some point, one of the Park Policemen did talk to Lisa briefly and then at some point they left. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. She was in a considerable state of emotional distress; is that so? Mr. HUBBELL. Absolutely. Senator Pryor had come and was trying to get his family physician there so we could have a doctor there to watch over Lisa that evening. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. The Park Police made no suggestion that the Foster home should be sealed or posted or in some way guarded in connection with any search they might want to make at some future time; is that correct? Mr. HUBBELL. That's correct. At least to the best of my knowledge they never made that request to me or the Foster family. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Was it clear from the Park Police that no note had been found at the scene of Mr. Foster's death? Mr. HUBBELL, That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you at some point yourself, together with Mrs. Foster, see whether Mr. Foster had left a note in the home? Mr. HUBBELL. At some time that evening, Lisa and I searched to see if there was a note somewhere in the house, yes, we did. We did not find a note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, you were present the next day helping Lisa Foster with a number of arrangements that had to be made; is that correct? Mr. HUBBELL. That's correct, that evening and then the next day. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did at any time the Park Police come back and say that they wished to search the Poster home for a note? Mr. HUBBELL. Not to my knowledge, sir. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, did any Park Police officer in your presence on the night of July 20 make any request that Mr. Foster's office be locked or secured or sealed or posted or any such thing? Mr. HUBBELL. The Park Police? Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Yes, sir. Mr. HUBBELL, No, not to my knowledge. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did it occur to you at some point that it might he a good idea to ensure that the office was locked? Mr. HUBBELL. Yes, it did, Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Why was that, sir?