Mr. Tauzin. So that the Court can or cannot? It is entirely up to 

 the Court to decide whether to reward you and your wife for the 

 video you took and the efforts you took to ensure prosecution in 

 this case? 



Mr. Levett. That is correct, sir. 



Mr. Tauzin. Do you know what the limits of that Court discre- 

 tion are? How far can they go? 



Mr. Levett. They can go up to half of the fine which is $250,000. 



Mr. Tauzin. Mr. Coble for questions. 



Mr. Coble. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Al, let me be sure I have 

 this right in my mind. On 25 October 1991, once you and your wife 

 came ashore, you immediately reported it to the Coast Guard? 



Mr. Levett. That is correct. On the 26th, I believe, when we 

 were ashore. We were in Ft. Lauderdale overnighting with our 

 inlaws, and I made several phone calls. One of those was to the 

 Marine Safety Office in Miami. 



Mr. Coble. And you may not know the answer to this next ques- 

 tion. Reading from your statement, then it is, you say, in July of 

 1992 — that would be seven or eight months later — within a few 

 weeks after the Coast Guard learned of NBC's interest, then the 

 case was processed through the Coast Guard's legal office. So far as 

 you know, Al, was that the Coast Guard's first involvement from 

 October of '91 when you and your wife had discussed with them? 



Mr. Levett. No. I believe I had been making periodic calls, and if 

 I am to believe what they told me, that they were in the process of 

 reviewing the file during that period. 



Mr. Coble. I was going to say, Admiral, I would be very disap- 

 pointed if that were the case. I would think the Coast Guard would 

 have been on top of it, but I am inclined to agree with Al about 

 this, Admiral. We will talk to you later. I am very high on the 

 Coast Guard, Al, as is the Chairman, but this appears to be an 

 undue delay. Maybe there is a good reason for it. There may have 

 been other matters that caused the delay, but this concerns me as 

 it concerns you. 



As an aside, Al, the Chairman asked you did you know about the 

 provision of whereby witnesses could be benefited by receiving a 

 portion of a judgment or a penalty? 



Mr. Levett. No, sir, we did not. 



Mr. Coble. There would have been nothing wrong if you had 

 known it, but it is known now, and I suspect "sailors beware" may 

 be the signal that emanates from this hearing room, Mr. Chair- 

 man. 



Mr. Tauzin. If the gentleman would yield, that is the reason I 

 asked the question. 



Mr. Coble. Yes. Just one minute, Al. I think I have one more 

 question, but I am not sure. I think the Chairman probably 

 touched on that. Yes. OK. We will pursue this — the delay of the 

 Coast Guard that bothers you, Al, and it bothers me. As I say, the 

 Admiral may have a good defense for that. Thank you, Al, for what 

 you and your wife did. Thank you for being here today. 



Mr. Tauzin. Would the gentleman yield first? 



Mr. Coble. Sure. 



Mr. Tauzin. I want to point out for all the members for the pur- 

 pose of information on this matter, staff informs me that that au- 



