July 19, 1995 - Part 3
July 19, 1995 - Part 3
(12:29:54)(tape #10114 begins) that aspect may be outside of the scope but would not preclude ascertaining if there was some kind of connection. If it goes further than that, I will rule it out. Senator SARBANES. The other observation I might The CHAIRMAN. Now, in fairness to the Senator, I think I've set down-and I hope that I have responded in a manner which constitutes the area of governance of this Committee. At this time, I'd like to see that the Senator has his opportunity to proceed. (12:30:26) Senator SARBANES. Fine. The CHAIRMAN. Then, if people want to raise or question why the Senator brings that up, they can do it on their time. Senator SARBANES. Let me just make this final observation. This is our first witness. I think there is some 23 or 24 either witnesses or panels, and we've now virtually used up the second day of the scheduled hearing. So, if we don't keep the focus on and keep moving along, we're going to have a problem. The CHAIRMAN. I'd like to do that. 126 Senator FAIRCLOTH. If nobody hinders the proceedings any more than I do, we'll move quickly. Mr. Hubbell, I will briefly run through the question one more time. Were you, as Associate Attorney General, aware on or before July 20, 1993, that the FBI or the U.S. Attorney in Little Rock was investigating David Hale? Were you aware, by whatever method? Mr. HUBBELL. As Associate Attorney General is how you asked the question; the answer is no. But during the campaign, I believe, there was a newspaper article that said Mr. Hale was under investigation. So I had read that in the paper, for whatever that's worth'. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Did you know a subpoena was issued to search the office of David Hale on July 20, 1993? Mr, HUBBELL. Not until much later. The CHAIRMAN. Senator, at this point I'm going to say that I think we're beginning to move into a different area. Those questions will be appropriate when it comes to looking into all of those aspects as it relates to Little Rock and whether or not there-and I don't want to be inflammatory or sensational, but all of the various matters laid out in the resolution that cover the Justice Department and its interaction in various events that it had to deal with, at this time Senator FAIRCLOTH. I was through pursuing that line, anyway. The CHAIRMAN. OK. Do you have any other questions? Senator FAIRCLOTH. Yes. Mr. Hubbell, are you aware that anyone with the Rose Law Firm went to Vince Foster's home in Arkansas after his death and removed documents from Vince Foster's home? Mr. HUBBELL. I don't believe that-I'm not aware of anything like that happening, no. Somebody else was living in the home at the time. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Mr. Hubbell, you testified that Lisa Foster looked for a note in the Foster home the evening (12:33:01)(tape #10113 ends) of Mr. Foster's death. During the course of your search, did you discover any documents relating to Whitewater, Madison or any other documents which were later removed to either the White House or to a private attorney? Mr. HUBBELL. No, we did not. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Mr. Hubbell, were you ever aware that the Park Police wanted the Justice Department to search their database for any connection between Vince Foster and the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, more commonly known as BCCI? Mr. HUBBELL. I've never heard that, Senator. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Did you have any responsibility for handling BCCI matters at the Justice Department, or do you know if Mr. Foster had done any work, either in private practice or while with the Government, related to BCCI? Mr. HUBBELL. I recused on the BCCI matter. So I did not have any involvement in Justice on the BCCI matter. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Do you have any knowledge whether there were BCCI documents in Mr. Foster's office? Mr. HUBBELL. I have no idea. I don't know what documents were in Vince's office. 127 Senator FAIRCLOTH. Do you know a John Richardson who worked at the Justice Department? Mr. HUBBELL. I know a John Richardson, but he does not work at the Justice Department, so I don't know--I mean, I know a John Richardson here in Washing-ton, but he's a private attorney. I don't know a John Richardson at the Justice Department. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Do you know who Susan Thomasson is? Mr. HUBBELL. Thomases, yes, I do. She's an attorney in New York with the firm of Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Will you explain briefly her relationship to the President and First Lady as you know it? Mr. HUBBELL. I believe that she and the First Lady went to college together. I know that she has been a longtime friend of both the President and First Lady, and she worked in the campaign and worked in the transition and, as far as I know, is still a very close friend of the First Lady and the President. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Why would Vince Foster have been discussing Travelgate with Susan Thomases?