Prosecutors Interested In Clinton Testimony

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 11) -- Prosecutors have approached President Bill Clinton's lawyers about the possibility of the president being asked to testify before the grand jury looking into allegations he had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and subsequently tried to cover it up.

Senior advisers to the president, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Clinton's attorneys have not formally responded to an overture made in the past few days from the office of Whitewater Independent Counsel Ken Starr.

Clinton will likely agree to testify, say the advisers, but only after Lewinsky has appeared before the grand jury first.

Also in this story:

• In person or by videotape?
  
• Would Lewinsky testify before or after Clinton?

CNN has been told no agreement has been reached on the matter and that contacts so far have been tentative. But the sources say preliminary contacts with the president's private attorney, David Kendall, suggest that Starr is interested in getting the president's side of the story.

There have been contacts for some time between lawyers for Starr and the president, but Starr's staff has only recently started to approach the president's attorneys about the possibility of such testimony.

This development is seen as a signal that Starr might be getting ready to start wrapping up his investigation.

In person or by videotape?

Starr

Sources tell CNN that one of Starr's options would be to call Clinton before his grand jury, but it is unclear whether he can legally force Clinton to appear. Another option would be for Starr to interview the president under oath, perhaps as part of a videotaped deposition. It's unclear whether Clinton would assert executive privilege to avoid such questioning.

A top political aide to Clinton said a personal appearance would be a dramatic step toward convincing the public that he is not covering up an affair with the former intern.

Clinton's team has anticipated the president's testimony since the Lewinsky investigation began seven weeks ago. Indeed, his political advisers, fearing that his high approval ratings could quickly collapse, have strongly urged Clinton to testify as soon as possible.

As part of an aggressive public relations strategy, the White House is trying to show that Clinton is eager to cooperate with Starr.

Would Lewinsky testify before or after Clinton?

Lewinsky

Still uncertain is when Lewinsky will testify. Her attorney and Starr have been in a war of wills during the past month over whether and how much immunity would be granted to her in exchange for her testimony.

But Clinton's lawyers fear having the president testify before Lewinsky would give Starr the ability to tailor her testimony to undercut Clinton. The president has denied his relationship with Lewinsky was sexual since the allegations became public in January.

Lewinsky has said in secretly tape recorded conversations with former colleague Linda Tripp that she and the president carried on an 18-month affair beginning in late 1995. However, in an affidavit in Paula Jones' civil rights suit against Clinton, Lewinsky reportedly denied her relationship with the president was sexual.

Wednesday March 11, 1998

• Prosecutors Interested In Clinton Testimony
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