July 20, 1995 - Part 1
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:10:48) Mr. HINES. Yes, it was. He identified himself as a Deputy Chief of Staff for the White House. Mr, CHERTOFF, Now, can you give us some of the reasons in your mind that it was necessary to have police officials look in the office the next day? What kinds of things would be relevant? Mr. HINES. We would want to find out if there's a suicide note. We would want to find out if there's anything there that he might have left that would give him a reason or show his state of mind. We'd want to check his records and see if he had financial problems, which is the reason many people commit suicide, items like this. Mr. CHERTOFF. Would you want to know whether he was aware of or involved in any way with some wrongdoing? Mr. HINES. We would if we found that out, yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. You would be looking for something that would be evidence of motive? Mr. HINES. We would. Any kind of evidence that might be motive or might lead us to believe that would contribute to his suicide. Mr. CHERTOFF. Is it fair to say-again, in thinking about the kinds of documents that would be in an office-that you would be particularly interested in things in his own handwriting? Mr. HINES. Things of his own handwriting would be of interest to us. Mr. CHERTOFF. As opposed to, let's say, magazines or public documents or books? Mr. HINES. True. Mr. CHERTOFF. So, in your experience and your mind, in conducting a review of what was in the office, things in his own handwriting would be documents that would get particular attention? Mr. HINES. It would be if it indicated that he was having problems in some way. Mr. CHERTOFF. At any point in time in your conversation with Mr. Burton, did he indicate to you any knowledge that anyone was going to be entering the off-ice of Mr. Foster that night? Mr. HINES. No, he did not. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you have any information from any other source that night, on July 20, 1993, that someone either had been in Mr. Foster's office to look for a note or that someone wanted to go into Mr. Foster's office to look for a note? Mr. HINES. No, I did not. Mr. CHERTOFF. I take it that you would not have wanted a search of the office to occur that night Without a Park Police officer being present? Mr. HINES. That's true. 154 Mr. CHERTOFF. Did there come a time let me direct this first to Sergeant Braun-that you eventually did learn on the night of July 20, 1993, somebody was in the office of Mr. Foster, one or more people looking for a suicide note? Ms. BRAUN. It wasn't until some time afterwards. Mr. CHERTOFF. Do you recall how you learned about it? Ms. BRAUN. No, I don't. Mr. CHERTOFF. What about you, Detective Rolla? Mr. ROLLA. I think I read it in the newspaper, Mr. CHERTOFF. What about you, Major Hines? Mr. HINES. I read it in the newspaper. Mr. CHERTOFF. Were any of you there at the White House the next day, on July 21, 1993, which was a Wednesday? Ms. BRAUN. I was not. Mr. ROLLA. I was not. Mr. HINES. I was there. Mr. CHERTOFF. At that point in time, Major Hines, was a request made by the Park Police to enter Mr. Foster's office to look for a note? Mr. HINES. I was there at 10 a.m. with Chief Robert E. Langston to brief the White House staff on what we knew about Mr. Foster's suicide at that time. During the briefing, I did request that we would want to enter his office, and I explained, basically, the investigative process that we would go through to all those present. I did say that we would need to look into his office, Mr. CHERTOFF. Do you remember who was present during that meeting? Mr. HINES. There were several people present that I remember. The Chief Counsel was present, Mr. Nussbaum. Mr. Hubbell was present. Mr. Kennedy was present and Mr. Watkins was present. Mr. CHERTOFF. In that conversation with them that morning, did they say you could go into the office that day and look for any relevant documents? Mr. HINES. My impression was that they were going to cooperate with us in any way they could during our investigation. Mr. CHERTOFF. During the balance of that day, did any Park Policeman set foot in Mr. Foster's office? Mr. HINES. It's my understanding that no Park Policeman set foot in his office. Mr. CHERTOFF. Let me keep your attention focused on that meeting of July 21, 1993 with Mr. Watkins and Mr. Nussbaum. In that meeting, did anybody indicate to you that morning that people had been through Mr. Foster's office the previous night shortly before midnight? Mr. HINES. Not to my knowledge. Mr. CHERTOFF. When did you first learn that had occurred? Mr. HINES. Repeat the question, Mr. CHERTOFF. When did you first learn that had occurred, that people had been in the office shortly before midnight? Mr. HINES. When I read it in the paper. Mr. CHERTOFF. I think I have no further questions. Mr. Chair- man, if I could return my time. The CHAIRMAN. Sergeant Braun, let me go over the night of July, 20, 1993, just as it relates to one thing that you've testified to. 155 You're saying there came a point in time when you spoke to Mr. Watkins, who was in charge of management and administration of the White House, and told him of the necessity to secure or seal off the office; is that correct?