First, on December 1st, I sent a letter to Chairman Thompson raising our objection to the subpoena you referred to, and I'd like to ask if that could be made a part of the official record of today's deposition.
Yes. And I believe that is in the binder as exhibit 2. And so that will be in the record.
Mr. Burnham. Okay.
And then just—I hadn't planned to say this, but you mentioned earlier that committee members might be joining here and there. To the extent possible, can you let us know who's here and who's coming?
Yes. So we will try to keep an eye on the video screen. It should pop up with their names on it. Sometimes it's only a first name or a last name, but we will try to notice it when we do, between questions, pause, and note for the record that they've joined.
Mr. Burnham. And I can watch it. They'll show up on this big TV here?
Yes.
Mr. Burnham. All right. So I can watch as well. Thank you.
With that said, short statement on behalf of my client.
We wish to preserve the objections in full noted in the letter I referred to a moment ago, but need not elaborate on them further here, with one exception.
I wish to emphasize to the committee the importance of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which I have counseled my client to invoke.
This right is fundamental to our system of justice. As I stated in my letter, our Supreme Court has called the Fifth Amendment a safeguard against heedless, unfounded, or tyrannical prosecution to protect the innocent, as well as the guilty.
Invoking the Fifth Amendment is not an admission of guilt and no one should
