Conyers requests FBI Director's notes on Ashcroft bedside visit John Byrne

Published: Friday July 27, 2007





Print This Email This Following a contradiction between testimony from FBI Director Robert Mueller and that of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales regarding a 2004 meeting in then-Attorney General John Ashcroft's hospital room about the NSA wiretapping program, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) formally requested notes Mueller testified he wrote after the Ashcroft visit late Thursday. Mueller testified that he is still in possession of the notes that he took because he felt, at the time, the events were "out of the ordinary." In direct contrast to Gonzales' testimony, Mueller told Congress the confrontation in Ashcroft's hospital room in 2004 was over the controversial surveillance program. Gonzales, speaking to the Senate Judiciary Committee under oath early this week, testified he had visited Ashcroft in the hospital about "other intelligence activities," not the controversial surveillance program. Conyers' letter to Mueller follows. July 26, 2007 BY FAX AND U.S. MAIL The Honorable Robert S. Mueller, III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20535 Dear Director Mueller: During todays Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, you testified in response to questions from Rep. Artur Davis that you had taken or made notes regarding conversations that you had with former Deputy Attorney General James Comey (who at the time was Acting Attorney General) and former Attorney General John Ashcroft (who at the time had transferred his Attorney General duties to Mr. Comey) regarding a March 10, 2004, hospital visit involving former White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and former Chief of Staff to the President Andrew Card. You also testified that you still were in possession of those notes, which from your testimony appear to memorialize facts regarding the issues discussed during and after the important events of March 10, 2004. During the hearing, Representative Davis requested that you provide the Committee with copies of those notes. I write now to formalize that request, and ask that you provide the Committee with copies of the notes to which you referred in your testimony. To the extent that the notes may contain classified information, we are fully prepared to accommodate any such concerns by controlling or limiting storage of, access to, or publication of information contained in the notes. I would appreciate receiving the notes from you by the close of business on Wednesday, August 1. Your response should be directed to the Judiciary Committee office, 2138 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (tel: 202-225-3951; fax: 202-225-7680). Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, John Conyers, Jr. Chairman cc: The Honorable Lamar S. Smith The Honorable Artur Davis



