Captain Talbert. No, sir; I did not. I examined it after it had been sealed off to see if it had been properly done, and in my opinion it had been.
Mr. Hubert. Now the clearing process consisted of what? The clearing out or checking whether the building had been sealed, the basement had been sealed?
Captain Talbert. Clearing all of the civilian employees out. They had a check. This was done before I went to the basement. But I was instructed, or not instructed, I mean informed after I went down to examine it, of the step by step process that had been taken in checking the news personnel back in, or checking them in the jail office that were in there.
Mr. Hubert. Well, as I understand it, it was not all cleared out of everybody and then accredited personnel let in, but rather those that were in there were checked out to see if they were accredited?
Captain Talbert. Right, sir.
Mr. Hubert. I think the accreditation consisted of their being authentic news media people?
Captain Talbert. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. Now were you given any instructions to the effect that news media were to be permitted to remain in the basement?
Captain Talbert. No, sir.
Mr. Hubert. Was it then your own initiative that news media were not to be removed from the basement?