July 20, 1995 - Part 4
July 20, 1995 - Part 4
(23:45:47) Ms. BRAUN. I guess not. Senator KERRY. Mr. Rolla, what about you? Mr. ROLLA. No. Senator KERRY. So, before they get a request, some of his coworkers went to his office and there's evidence that Maggie Williams was sitting there crying. Does that strike you as unusual? Ms. BRAUN. No, I guess not. Senator KERRY. Now, importantly, again and again you have said the only thing on your mind was a note or state of mind; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Senator FERRY. You didn't view the house as a place of suspicion, did you, when you got there? Ms. BRAUN. No. Senator KERRY. You didn't go upstairs and search in the bathroom, in the medicine cabinet, under the pillow, on the bureau or anywhere for a note, did you? Ms. BRAUN. That would be unreasonable. Senator KERRY. Because you knew this was a place of grief, and it was a place where people were trying to give you. answers about state of mind under difficult circumstances? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. 198 Senator KERRY. Is there any reason to have believed that his office would have been a different kind of place that same night at that same time? Ms. BRAUN. I guess it didn't occur to me. What I was looking for in that office was the state it was in when he left it. Mr. ROLLA. I didn't expect anyone to be in his office. I didn't expect the office to be like his house, people gravitating, grieving. A house is more personal. We're not going to intrude on somebody's bedroom or in their house during that. Again, it's just an issue of cooperation, Senator KERRY. In point of fact, his office was not treated as if it were a house. There were only three or so people, his co-workers in that particular department or in the White House, who went into it. Isn't that accurate? Mr. ROLLA. I believe so. Senator KERRY. Now, you never told Mr. Watkins specifically that you should not prevent anybody with a right to go into the office from going in, did you? Ms. BRAUN. No. Senator KERRY. Did you ever intend that somebody who had a right to go into the office should not go into the office? Ms. BRAUN. No. Senator KERRY. You merely intended that it be basically preserved from maybe the media coming in or a whole lot of people traipsing around and disturbing the possibility of exclusively finding a note; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Right. Senator KERRY. With respect to that note, we have the actual handwritten note. Both sides have had it, and out of respect to the family, that note is not now going to be made available on these screens, nor do I think it should be, necessarily, though I might say were it visible on the screen for people to read and see, I think they would have a better understanding of what all of this is really about. It has been made public, however, its contents. Let me just ask you a couple of questions about it. Subsequent to the finding of that note, the handwriting of that note has been compared, has it not, to Vince Foster's handwriting? Ms. BRAUN. I had no involvement in that part of the investigation. Senator KERRY. Do you know that? Mr. ROLLA. Yes. Senator KERRY. Do you know that, Major? Mr. HINES. Yes, I do. Senator KERRY. You know that the finding is that this handwriting has been found to be Vince Foster's handwriting? Mr. HINES. Yes, I do. Senator KERRY. The authenticity of this note is not in doubt, is it? Mr. HINES. It's not in doubt. Senator KERRY. No one has questioned its authenticity? Mr. HINES. Not to my knowledge. Senator KERRY. Since it was handwritten and that authenticity is stated and clear and unquestioned, I might add, this note was written before Vince Foster died? 199 Mr. ROLLA. Yes, it was. Senator KERRY. Therefore, let me read the contents to you for a moment, and I want to ask you a question about it. Vince Foster wrote: Whenever I made mistakes from ignorance, inexperience, and overwork, I did not knowingly violate any law or standard of conduct. No one in the White House, to my knowledge, violated any law or standard of conduct, including any action in the Travel Office. There was no intent to benefit any individual or specific group. The FBI lied in their report to the AG. The press is covering up the illegal benefits they received from the Travel staff. The GOP has lied and misrepresented its knowledge and role and covered up a prior investigation. The Ushers Office plotted to have excessive costs incurred, taking advantage of CACI and HRC. The public will never believe the innocence of the Clintons and their loyal staff. The WSJ-standing for Wall Street Journal--editors lie without consequence. I was not meant for the job or the spotlight of public life in Washington. Here, ruining people is considered sport.