ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310128
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

FBI PROBES HANDLING OF FOSTER NOTE

FBI agents Friday began interviewing White House staff members about their handling of a note found in the briefcase of deputy counsel Vincent Foster to determine why they waited 30 hours before turning it over to U.S. Park Police investigating Foster's apparent suicide on July 20.

The note has been described by White House staff members and Park Police as containing evidence of his dejection over his job and problems that have arisen in the White House counsel's office, such as the travel office affair.

Although it was discovered by an aide to White House counsel Bernard Nussbaum on Monday afternoon, it was not handed over to the Park Police until Tuesday evening after a series of high-level debates that ultimately involved Attorney General Janet Reno.

The delay aroused concerns among Park Police investigators that the White House was withholding evidence in the case. But White House officials have said the delay occurred because they wanted to first provide a copy to Foster's widow. - The Washington Post 


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