Under questioning by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, former White House counsel Bernard Nussbaum disputed testimony Wednesday by the Secret Service, Justice Department and U.S. Park Police about what happened following Vincent Foster's suicide.
Later, he even disputed his own earlier deposition to the special Senate committee investigating White-water.Hatch complained in an interview that the version of events depicted by Nussbaum and his deputies "is a completely different view than everyone else. There is something about this that doesn't compute. Something's wrong here."
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who is also on the committee, agreed saying Nussbaum and his former deputies "would have you believe they all acted responsibly and intelligently on the basis of the finest legal ethics."
But he added that "the Park Police, Secret Service, Justice Department and White House support staff all paint a much different picture of frantic running around, clear signs of paranoia and acting almost irrationally with a clear intent of something to hide."
Nussbaum in his testimony said he and his staff never destroyed any records from Foster's office and provided all documents requested - but did not allow free run of Foster's office in order to protect confidentiality of files there.
Under questioning by Hatch, Nussbaum said he never agreed to allow Justice Department lawyers to be present and view documents with him in Foster's office as he searched for a suicide note.
Justice Department and Secret Service officials earlier testified (and an FBI memo agreed) that such an agreement had been made - but Nussbaum broke it when he went through files himself as Park Police watched from across the room, which could have allowed Nussbaum to remove embarrassing papers.
Nussbaum, however, said he had only agreed to consider allowing Justice Department lawyers to participate. He blamed the differences in testimony on "a miscommunication" - and said that even if such a deal had been made, he had the right to break it to protect confidentiality of the files.
Also under questioning by Hatch, Nuss-baum disputed testimony by Susan Thomases - a close friend of President Clinton. She said she called Nussbaum to voice concern about searching Foster's office, but he said he raised the issue with her.