Grand Jury Focuses On Tripp Tapes
By John King and Bob Franken/CNN
WASHINGTON (March 11) -- The grand jury hearing the Monica Lewinsky case did not take testimony from witnesses Wednesday. Jurors spent the day mainly listening to tape-recorded phone conversations made by Linda Tripp while talked with her onetime friend Monica Lewinsky, sources tell CNN.
The session followed Tuesday's testimony from former White House volunteer Kathleen Willey, who alleges President Bill Clinton hugged and fondled her in 1993. The president, according to sources familiar with his deposition in the Paul Jones civil rights case, confirmed the meeting with Willey, but denied her allegation of a sexual advance.
The grand jury played particular attention Wednesday to portions of the tape dealing with Lewinsky's efforts to convince Tripp she should revise her story during a deposition, sources knowledgeable about Wednesday's proceedings say. Tripp claims to have run into Willey outside the Oval Office after the alleged encounter and says Willey appeared disheveled, with her lipstick smeared.
Independent Counsel Ken Starr's Washington grand jury is looking into reports Clinton had a sexual relationship with former White House intern Lewinsky and encouraged her to lie about it under oath. Clinton has emphatically denied the allegations.
Sources have said Lewinsky urged Tripp to say she believed Willey had been responsible for her messy appearance.
Willey was questioned Tuesday about her encounter with the president. Starr is also interested in Willey's claim that Democratic fund-raiser Nathan Landow talked to her several times about her pending deposition in the Jones' case, leaving Willey with the impression he was suggesting she change her story, sources informed about her testimony tell CNN.
In media accounts Landow acknowledges he spoke with Willey but says did not talk about the Jones case.
Willey may return for a second day of testimony.
White House secretary's testimony delayed
White House secretary Betty Currie, who was expected to testify before the grand jury on Wednesday, will probably not appear until next week, sources tell CNN.
One of these sources says presidential confidant Bruce Lindsey remains on notice that he is likely to be recalled to testify perhaps as early as Thursday.
Both Currie and Lindsey have testified before but were told they would be recalled for additional questioning.
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