Speaking Truth to Power - Anita Hill [60]
FBI Agents John B. Luton and Jolene Smith Jameson arrived at my home at 6:30 in the evening. Naively, I had not asked anyone to be there with me, and later I regretted it. I apologized for the disarray in my living room as I showed them in. The work that had begun in the summer was still progressing, although I was now able to use my living room furniture, albeit crammed into a small space in the front of the room. I did not take notes, and neither they nor I recorded the conversation.
Under what was described to me as standard procedure, Agent Luton asked most of the questions, and Agent Jameson took notes. Luton explained that the notes would be used to file their final report. Neither of them said anything about their experience in investigating this type of complaint. I offered the agents a copy of my statement to accompany their report, but they informed me that they already had a copy. I told them about Thomas’ descriptions of pornography, the pressure for dates, the discussions of his sexual activities.
After I answered specific questions about Thomas’ behavior, Agent Luton asked if there were other details that I would feel comfortable relating to them. I declined to add anything further. He suggested that I might feel more comfortable giving details to Agent Jameson alone. I again declined to add to the information I had provided. I thought that what I had said was more than enough to convey the nature of what had happened. I still did not trust their role in the process. Moreover, their inquiry was not a demanding or probing one. It was professional but relaxed.
I did add the comment Thomas made on the evening of my “exit interview” over dinner: that if anyone ever learned about his behavior toward me, it would ruin his career. I had mentioned the comment in my statement and when I spoke with Brudney, but it had not come up during the FBI questioning. I remember precisely what I said to the agents because I could not forget Thomas’ own words. Nor could I forget that the tone of his words had been neither apologetic nor remorseful. The only regret he expressed was that his behavior might appear improper to others. Thomas made it clear that he expected me to keep my mouth shut. Agent Luton would remember the comment differently—he claimed I said Thomas had threatened to ruin my career—and it would be reported differently. In statements circulated to the press by Republican senators, the FBI would allege a “discrepancy” between my testimony about Thomas’ remarks at the hearing and what I told their agents.
Before they left, Agent Luton asked me a question he felt compelled to justify. He asked if there was anything in the way I dressed or carried myself that might have led Thomas to believe it was appropriate to talk to me about pronography or to make otherwise suggestive remarks. Agent Luton said that by asking the question he was in no way suggesting an answer. In fact, he said that while he was certain that I had not dressed or acted inappropriately, he felt obliged to ask. It was difficult to know whether the agent was catering to the myths about sexual harassment or simply anticipating the defense against my claims. I answered that I had dressed then, as I did at the present time, rather conservatively, and certainly in a way appropriate to an office setting.
The agents ended the session by informing me that my corroborating witness would be contacted and that I would undoubtedly hear from them again with follow-up questions. Follow-up contact, Agent Luton explained to me, was inevitable, and I should expect it. We chatted briefly after the interview, which lasted approximately forty-five minutes, and I showed them the work I was having done on my house.
The agents’ questions were not as direct as those Jim Brudney had asked a few days earlier when he sought the details of Thomas’ behavior. In responding to the FBI agents, I spoke specifically to their questions but did not elaborate or volunteer more information. I was much more uncomfortable talking about the matter to two strangers