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 Clinton Reaches Out To Congressional Leaders (9-8-98)

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 Clinton's Democratic Support Slips Further (9-6-98)

 House Leaders Will Discuss Starr Report (9-4-98)

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 Players, timeline, documents, quick votes, quiz, archives. AllPolitics' in-depth look at the investigation into the president's relationship with Monica Lewinsky has it all.


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Lewinsky Strikes Far-Reaching Immunity Deal

Clinton subpoena will not be enforced as negotiations for his testimony continue

Also in this story:

  • Tripp testifies again; she is encouraged by immunity deal
  • Lewinsky breaks her silence, talks to prosecutors
  • Negotiations over Clinton's testimony continue
  • Court rules Lindsey must testify
  • Secret Service testimony resumes; Cockell back on duty
  • WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 28) -- Lawyers for Monica Lewinsky and Independent Counsel Ken Starr have worked out a broad immunity deal for the ex-White House intern, paving the way for her to tell a grand jury about her relationship with President Bill Clinton. The agreement, announced Tuesday, also applies to Lewinsky's mother, Marcia Lewis.

    Cacheris
    Plato Cacheris

    The dramatic breakthrough in the Lewinsky investigation followed a meeting between Lewinsky and Starr's prosecutors on Monday, when she told prosecutors she did have a sexual relationship with the president.

    Lewinsky's lawyers, Plato Cacheris and Jacob Stein, announced the agreement. In a brief statement to a throng of reporters outside their law offices, Cacheris said, "We, as counsel for Monica Lewinsky, have reached an agreement today that for her full and truthful testimony, she will receive transactional immunity in this case." The attorneys refused to answer any questions.

    Transactional immunity, legal experts said, is the broadest kind of immunity, excusing any of Lewinsky's prior conduct in exchange for her testimony. Because it is unlimited, this type of immunity is rarely granted; "use immunity" is more common.

    Lewis' attorney, Billy Martin, announced shortly afterward that the deal "also provides the same level of protection and immunity to her mother, Marcia Lewis. She has also been immunized by this agreement."

    Lewis appeared before the grand jury last February, but her testimony was interrupted and has not resumed since then. According to tape recordings made by Linda Tripp, Lewinsky talked frequently to her mother about her relationship with Clinton.

    Martin
    Billy Martin

    Under the terms of the immunity deal, Lewinsky will not face any legal jeopardy provided she testifies truthfully. That point had been a significant sticking point in the negotiations because Starr wanted her to plead guilty to some charge in exchange for immunity, but that was Lewinsky's primary objection.

    Lewinsky returned to Washington Tuesday, ready to sign the immunity deal. She arrived at her lawyers' office shortly before the announcement, making her way through the crowd of waiting reporters and camera crews.

    Despite Lewinsky's immunity, sources at the White House say that the president will not change his story in any significant way.

    That could set the stage for an eventual he-says-versus-she-says confrontation.

    In their sworn testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, both Lewinsky and the president denied having a sexual relationship. Clinton has repeated that denial in public and has also denied asking Lewinsky to lie about the alleged affair.

    Still, White House press secretary Mike McCurry insisted the president was happy that Lewinsky was no longer in legal trouble. "He is pleased things are working out for [Lewinsky]," McCurry said.

    Tripp testifies again; she is encouraged by immunity deal

    Zaccagnini
    Anthony Zaccagnini

    Tripp, the woman whose secret tape recordings of her onetime friend Lewinsky triggered Starr's investigation, returned to the federal courthouse Tuesday morning to resume her testimony before the grand jury.

    Responding to news of an immunity agreement for Lewinsky and her mother, Tripp's spokesman, Philip Coughter, said, "Obviously, we interpret this news as corroboration of Linda's testimony before the grand jury."

    Coughter also read a statement from Tripp: "I am encouraged by this development. It now appears that Monica Lewinsky is prepared to tell at least a portion of the truth. I encourage her and all other witnesses not only to tell the truth but to tell the whole truth."

    Anthony Zaccagnini, attorney for Tripp, said he was hopeful his client's grand jury testimony would be completed Wednesday. He said it was undecided if Tripp would speak to reporters herself.

    Lewinsky breaks her silence, talks to prosecutors

    Lewinsky
    Monica Lewinsky

    One source described the five-hour session Monday between Lewinsky and prosecutors as "comprehensive, thorough" and confirmed that the former White House intern said she had a sexual relationship with the president.

    But she continued to assert that she was never asked by the president to lie if questioned in the Jones lawsuit. This is consistent with what she said months ago in her written proffer, summarizing what she would testify to if granted immunity from prosecution.

    Cacheris and Stein agreed to Monday's daylong interview at an undisclosed location in New York even though their client did not have immunity.

    Starr's deputies, one of the sources said, had been pushing for at least one more face-to-face meeting, preferably Wednesday, before committing to a final agreement.

    Before the Tuesday morning meeting Stein said they also would discuss news leaks about Lewinsky's New York meeting with prosecutors. "We're going down to Mr. Starr's office right now to discuss leaks," Stein told reporters outside his law office building. "The information that has appeared would not come from us and we want to talk about that."

    Negotiations over Clinton's testimony continue

    Separately, sources said the independent counsel would not attempt to enforce a subpoena calling for Clinton to testify Tuesday before the federal grand jury, as intense negotiations continue between the president's lawyer and Starr on the location, format, scope and timing of Clinton's testimony.

    Kendall
    David Kendall

    A source familiar with the White House legal strategy said the president would confer Tuesday with his lawyer, David Kendall, for an update on those talks.

    This source said Kendall and Starr are making some progress in their talks and that Starr would not try to enforce the subpoena calling the president before the grand jury Tuesday. But the source said a deal was not imminent.

    Among the obstacles: Kendall, the source said, is arguing that the president should not have to testify for several weeks, citing his busy travel schedule over the next two weeks and a long-scheduled two week vacation. Kendall is said to have told Starr that the best time would be after the president returns from a trip to Russia and Ireland in early September.

    Starr is said to be eager to question the president as soon as possible, however.

    What especially concerns some of the president's supporters, they say, is that the independent counsel might be setting up the president for what's described as a "perjury trap" -- in other words, an attempt to get the president under oath before the grand jury in some form, only to have Lewinsky contradict him later.

    Court rules Lindsey must testify

    The White House suffered another setback Monday when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Clinton confidant Bruce Lindsey would have to testify before the grand jury.

    The appeals panel ruled that conversations the president has with government lawyers are not protected by attorney-client privilege, as a discussions would be between Clinton and his private attorneys.

    Secret Service testimony resumes; Cockell back on duty

    Also testifying Tuesday: Secret Service officers and agents have been streaming in and out of the courthouse for their appearances before the grand jury. Six additional Secret Service uniformed officers have been subpoenaed to testify this week, Mike Leibig, head of an association of Secret Service officers, said Monday night.

    Leibig said, to date, 11 Secret Service personnel have given grand jury testimony in the Lewinsky probe.

    In related news, Secret Service Agent Larry Cockell will resume his duties Tuesday evening as the head of Clinton's protective detail in the field, an authoritative administration source told CNN.

    The 17-year Secret Service veteran was removed from his post as the lead agent on the president's protective detail after it became clear that he would have to testify before Starr's grand jury investigating the Lewinsky matter.

    Cockell and his superiors worried he might be distracted by journalists while he was protecting the president.

    He is expected to be at the president's side when he makes a speech to the National Council of Senior Citizens in Washington Tuesday evening. Cockell will also travel again with Clinton, the source said.

    CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Bob Franken contributed to this report.
    In Other News

    Tuesday, July 28, 1998

    Lewinsky Strikes Far-Reaching Immunity Deal
    Campaign-Finance Figure Returns To U.S.
    Herman Praises Tentative GM Settlement
    Burton Considers Contempt Citation For Reno
    Bipartisan Effort Underway To Create Secret Service Privilege


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