Lawyer Floats Idea Of Lewinsky Defense Fund

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Feb. 22) -- Monica Lewinsky's attorney said Sunday she needs a legal defense fund similar to the one that is helping President Bill Clinton pay his legal bills.

Ginsburg

William Ginsburg said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would "welcome" a responsible law or accounting firm's coming forward to create a fund like Clinton's.

He said he was not "personally looking for anybody's sympathy" but added: "I am not being paid appropriately and her father has limited resources."

Lewinsky is not planning to write a book, Ginsburg said, but he added it may be her only choice.

No new talks with Starr

Ginsburg also said there have been no recent negotiations with independent counsel Ken Starr for Lewinsky's testimony and that he doesn't expect any in the future.

Lewinsky and Ginsburg

Ginsburg, asked if there were any discussions with Starr about Lewinsky's potential grand jury testimony on her relationship with Clinton, said there were "absolutely none."

"The last time I spoke to Mr. Starr ... was approximately two weeks ago when they reneged on the immunity deal that we had made," Ginsburg said. Starr disputes that any deal on immunity was made.

Asked if he expects future negotiations or discussions with Starr, Ginsburg said, "I don't expect any. I am not asking for any."

He did not directly answer whether Lewinsky would be "a cooperating witness" for Starr but said, "I can assure you that she is not very friendly at this moment toward Mr. Starr and his efforts."

Ginsburg said he still believes Starr has "a one-witness case" concerning allegations that the president had sexual relations with Lewinsky and asked her to lie about it.

'You are to believe her affidavit'

Asked whether people should believe an affidavit in which Lewinsky denied any sexual relationship with Clinton or an FBI wiretap recording in which she says she did have such a relationship, Ginsburg said, "You are to believe her affidavit. She stands by her affidavit."

On CBS' "Face the Nation," Ginsburg rejected the idea that Clinton's friend and adviser Vernon Jordan helped Lewinsky get a job in exchange for her denial in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit that she had a sexual relationship with Clinton.

"Unequivocally no. No quid pro quo," Ginsburg said.

But Ginsburg declined to comment about whether Lewinsky ever told Jordan that she had a sexual relationship with the president. Jordan has said Lewinsky told him she hadn't.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sunday February 22, 1998

• Troubled Democrats Losing Key Governors This Year
• Lawyer Floats Idea of Lewinsky Defense Fund