CONFIRMATION HEARING ON RICHARD J. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1990 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:45 a.m., in room SD226, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Howard Metzenbaum presiding. Present: Senators Metzenbaum, Thurmond, and Specter. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR METZENBAUM Senator METZENBAUM. This hearing will come to order. The Chair apologizes for starting late, but some other commitments created problems. As a matter of fact, some commitments at the back end create some problems as well, but we have, I think, two Senators here with us to introduce some of the nominees. I will say to the Senators that under the procedures of this committee, the shorter the opening statement is, the more persuasive it is. And with that in mind, we are happy to have Senator John Warner, Senator Don Riegle, and Senator Carl Levin. Please be good enough to take your seats. We are very happy to have you with us, and we are very pleased to hear from you. Your entire statements will be put in the record, but we do ask you to be relatively brief. For reasons that I am not quite certain about, my list shows Warner first, and I don't know why. But with due apologies to the other two, Senator Warner. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN W. WARNER, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA Senator WARNER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I will be guided by the admonishments of the distinguished chairman and good friend. Indulge me in a moment of humor. I was a graduation speaker at a wonderful Virginia college this weekend, and I was marching in by "Pomp and Circumstance" and a parent thrust in my hand a little note. I read it and it said, blessed are those who are brief, for ye shall be reinvited. [Laughter.] Well, that says a lot, and I will be brief because this is an important day for the Hankinson family. Mr. Richard J. Hankinson has been nominated by the President of the United States to be the first inspector general at the Department of Justice. (339) This is a new position, as the chairman and members of this committee well know, because I would presume that the committee had a great deal to do with the creation of the position. He comes with a very distinguished background, Mr. Chairman, and also his partners in life are here with him and I think it is most fitting that we introduce to the Chair and members of this committee his wife, Patricia Merrill Hankinson. They have three children who are here today. This is the family, Mr. Chairman. The first son is Stephen, the second is Todd, and Kristen is 14 years old. Senator METZENBAUM. Are they for this nomination or against it? [Laughter.] Senator WARNER. I understand they are for this nomination, Mr. Chairman. So if the Chair will accept my statement in detail, I thank you for the privilege of being here, and I thank the Hankinson family for offering to serve as public servants in this important position. Senator METZENBAUM. Well, I think it speaks very well for Mr. Hankinson that both Senators-Senator Robb was here, but had to leave both Senators, obviously two Senators from different political parties, have both been here to support Mr. Hankinson's nomination. We appreciate your cooperation and taking the time to be with us, and it certainly has an impact upon us. Senator WARNER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator Robb was here earlier and had to depart for another engagement. Senator METZENBAUM. Thank you. [The prepared statement of Senator Warner follows:] STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF RICHARD J. HANKINSON TO BE INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BY SENATOR JOHN WARNER are there Blessed MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, I AM PLEASED TODAY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MR. RICHARD J. HANKINSON WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO BE INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THIS IS A NEW POSITION. SINCE 1986, MR. HANKINSON HAS SERVED AS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER IN THE OFFICE OF PHYSICAL SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE UNITED STATES GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. PRIOR TO THIS, MR. HANKINSON SERVED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. HE WAS DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS, 1985-1986; SERVED AS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1983-1985; -2 SERVED AS DEPUTY SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1981-1982; SERVED AS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, 1978-1981; SERVED AS ASSISTANT INSPECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF INSPECTION, 1976-1978; SERVED AS SPECIAL AGENT FOR VICE PRESIDENT NELSON ROCKEFELLER'S SECRET SERVICE DETAIL, 1975-1976; SERVED AS RESIDENT AGENT IN CANTON, OHIO, 1971-1975; AND SERVED AS SPECIAL AGENT IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, 1966-1971. MR. RICHARD J. HANKINSON WAS GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND WHERE HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN 1965. HE WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1942 IN NEW BALTIMORE, PENNSYLVANIA. MR. HANKINSON IS MARRIED TO PATRICIA MERRIL HANKINSON AND THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN. THE FIRST SON IS STEVEN, 24 YEARS OLD, TODD, 20 YEARS OLD, AND KRISTIN, 14 YEARS OLD. THE HANKINSON FAMILY CURRENTLY RESIDE IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA. -3 MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. HANKINSON'S EXPERIENCES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND LEGAL TOOLS NECESSARY TO PERFORM IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER AS INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. I HOPE THE COMMITTEE WILL GIVE HIS NOMINATION THE UTMOST CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION AND THAT THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE HIS NOMINATION AND REPORT FAVORABLY TO THE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. |