July 20, 1995 - Part 1
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(09:29:31) Opens to shots of Senate hearing room where the media, Senators, witnesses and audience slowly gather (09:41:45) Hearing begins: INVESTIGATION OF WHITEWATER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND RELATED MATTERS THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1995 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AF FAIRS, SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE WHITEWATER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND RELATED MATTERS, Washington, DC. The Committee met at 9:30 a.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato (Chairman of the Committee) presiding. OPENING COMMENTS OF CHAIRMAN ALFONSE M. D'AMATO The CHAIRMAN. This morning, we're going to hear from the panel of Park Police officers. But, before we do, I'd like to make two observations. Number one, we received a communication dated July 19 from the Office of Independent Counsel to Senator Sarbanes and myself in which, basically, the Independent Counsel indicates he's received the request from our Committee for the information that we requested as it relates to Maggie Williams and the polygraph test that may have been administered and various questions that may have been asked, I will summarize it by saying that he has denied our request, and we will make this letter available to the media at the present time. You will have a copy of it. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR PAUL S. SARBANES Senator SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, could I observe that I very much regret this response by the Independent Counsel because I think the consequence of it is to make the work of this Committee more difficult, and it seemed to me that the request that had been put to him, first jointly by our counsel and then reinforced by all the Members of the Full Committee, was a very reasonable request. Unfortunately, we're now confronted with not receiving this cooperation, which I think would have been very helpful. The CHAIRMAN. I concur that it could have been very helpful. Maybe it's because of the need to be, I think, extra cautious, but it will make our work more difficult. Senator SARBANES. I understand our counsel tried to find an even lesser request to try to accommodate The CHAIRMAN. To review its scope, how extensive the questions were. Senator SARBANES. Even that was declined. 144 The CHAIRMAN. That is the case, so it will make the job more dif- ficult and put the Committee through more work, but we share that with you. Senator FAIRCLOTH. Jim, would it be out of line to request from the White House that Ms. Williams voluntarily release the test? The CHAIRMAN. No, no, because this apparently-and I say apparently-was a test administered by or with the supervision or authorization of the Independent Counsel, and the White House really does not have the ability to ask that of Maggie Williams, so it would not be the appropriate form to ask for relief. It really is the Independent Counsel, and his judgment. We will share that with you; I've asked for copies to be made to be distributed, But it will not be done. I think it's unfortunate. Senator SARBANES. I think I ought to say she doesn't have the test. Senator FAIRCLOTH. OK. That's what I was asking. Senator SARBANES. The Independent Counsel has it, and we thought he should have provided it or helped to accommodate us and he's not done that.