Doan Vs Waxman On Her Memory Loss

By John Amato — June 12, 2007

Is Lurita going to need a script for Pat Roberts memory pills?

Chairman Waxman: "At our March hearing, you repeatedly claimed you could not recall any information about the January 26, 2007 meeting or the White House political presentation, and you had absolutely no memory of asking GSA employees how they could help Republican candidates in upcoming elections. That's what you told us. We questioned you over and over again. You remember there were cookies, you remembered you came in late, you remembered that some employees didn't attend, but beyond that you said you had no further information.

Five weeks later you testified before the Office of Special Counsel and suddenly you had a new enriched details about the meeting and your statements. According to your OSC testimony, you said you asked the White House presenter, how can GSA help its cabinet liaison understand that the opening of the San Francisco federal building would be a perfect event for President Bush to attend. Did you say that to the Office of Special Counsel?"

Doan: "Yes, I believe I did."

Waxman: "You also told them that Mr. Jennings suggested you write a white paper, or a one-pager, explaining why it would be relevant for the President to attend. But you didn't tell that to our committee. During your interview with OSC you testified that you refrained from providing this committee with full information about the meeting, you testified that you were advised not to engage in a quote, 'substantive discussion,' end quote, of the political briefing that you believed OSC investigators should have quote, 'first dibs,' on this information.

That makes it sound like when you told us you didn't recall you were really holding back information. You did tell us under oath that you didn't remember, then you told the Special Counsel under oath that you did remember and you were even saving the information for him. When you appear before this committee and you testify under oath you're supposed to testify honestly and completely, that's an obligation that people have and it's to be taken seriously

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