Sentence:  Petitioner was not denied due process in the administrative proceedings , because the <WSD>statement</WSD> in question was in his file , to which he had access , and he had opportunities to rebut it both before the hearing officer of the Department of Justice and before the appeal board . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc