John Sarbanes: “One of the things that is happening--and I think this needs to be understood--is that we get notes and testimony, and…”

“One of the things that is happening--and I think this needs to be understood--is that we get notes and testimony, and then it is treated as though it is some new discovery. ``Oh, we found out something that no one knew anything about.'' For example, when Mr. Ickes came in, a lot of focus was on the fact that there was this damage control squad to deal with the Whitewater matter set up in early 1994 and that he was the head of it. So this is treated in the hearings--and it has been done here on the floor as well today--as a major revelation, a new sort of breakthrough in discovery of facts that has been made. This is from the Washington Post, January 7, 1994: With the start of the new year, the White House launched a major internal effort to fight back against mounting criticism of the way it has handled inquiries into President Clinton's Arkansas land investments. A high-powered damage control squad was appointed under the direction of new Deputy Chief of Staff, Harold Ickes, and daily strategy sessions began. This article was in January 1994, reporting on this matter.”