Clinton Braces For Historic Testimony
(Editor's note: This report contains explicit language)
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 16) -- On the eve of President Bill Clinton's historic grand jury testimony, perhaps only the president himself knows exactly what he intends to tell the grand jurors about the nature of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
One of Clinton's personal attorneys on Sunday described the president as "confident, looking forward" to his Monday testimony in the Lewinsky investigation.
CNN has learned that Clinton's political team at the White House has been told to make preparations for the president to deliver a short nationwide address Monday night from his private residence in the White House. However, a final decision on whether to speak to the nation has not been made.
White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry continues to stand by the president's earlier commitment to testify completely and truthfully.
"He knows exactly what he is going to testify to, and that's the whole truth," McCurry said.
McCurry and other top political aides were briefed Sunday by Clinton attorney Mickey Kantor. Several aides at the session said Kantor gave no details of what the president was prepared to say under oath or any guidance for responding to accounts from close presidential advisers who say Clinton will acknowledge an intimate relationship with the former White House intern.
Clinton met for several hours with his lawyers Sunday morning, broke for church, then had a few hours of private time at the White House with his family before sessions with the lawyers resumed at approximately 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Kantor told the political aides he expected the meeting to break up by 7 p.m. EDT.
Presidential aides are assuming Monday's testimony will last four to six hours. The president is still tentatively scheduled to leave Monday night for Martha's Vineyard. But aides said that decision would not be made until Monday afternoon.
Lewinsky may be recalled to the grand jury
CNN has also learned that lawyers for Lewinsky were called last week by Independent Counsel Ken Starr's prosecutors and told that Lewinsky "may
possibly" be called back to testify this week, following Clinton's testimony.
Lewinsky was not excused from her subpoena following her testimony on Aug. 6.
The grand jury convenes at 12:15 p.m. EDT Monday to hear the president's historic televised testimony and then has sessions scheduled this week on Tuesday and Thursday.
One of those days could include a possible return appearance of Lewinsky.
"It all depends," said a source familiar with the plans, "what the president says and does."
Speculation on the president's testimony and subsequent public comments has abounded.
"There is apparently an enormous amount of groundless speculation about the president's testimony tomorrow," David Kendall, the president's private lawyer, said in a formal statement.
"The truth is the truth -- period. And that is how the president will testify," Kendall's rare public statement said without elaborating.
Sources have told CNN that Clinton is likely to acknowledge that he had an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky during Monday's testimony.
Both Clinton and Lewinsky denied under oath in depositions for the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit that they had a sexual relationship.
And in January the president forcefully announced, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
He Said, She Said
But sources say during her grand jury appearance Aug. 6, Lewinsky told the grand jury she did have several sexual encounters with Clinton, none of which included actual sexual intercourse.
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So if it is a question of he-said, she-said, what exactly did he say? And could the president's definition of what happened with the former intern have created the alleged discrepancy? Did the president's denial specifically cover the activities Lewinsky is claiming?
In the Paula Jones case, the president was asked, "Did you have an extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky?"
"No," Clinton answered.
But Clinton is famous for hairsplitting evasions. During the 1992 presidential campaign, he denied having an affair with Gennifer Flowers, then years later admitted that, in fact, they did have sex once, in 1977.
So during his initial deposition, Jones' lawyers worked to pin him down on the Lewinsky matter.
"Have you ever had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky as that term is defined in Deposition Exhibit One?" they asked.
Exhibit One defined "sexual relations" far more broadly than mere intercourse.
"When the person knowingly engages in or causes contact with the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person, with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person," the definition read.
After the judge said Clinton could be shown that definition, he said: "I have never had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky."
Some suggest the president's lawyers could argue he was confused about what he was being asked, but that would be a tough sell.
On the matter of sex the conflict is stark. But on other matters, the president left himself more wiggle room than people commonly suppose.
For example, when questioned about gifts he allegedly gave to Lewinsky, Clinton claimed not to have a clear memory.
"Have you ever given any gifts to Monica Lewinsky?" Jones' team asked.
"I don't recall. Do you know what they were?" Clinton responded.
"A hat pin?" the lawyer answered.
"I don't, I don't remember. But I certainly, I could have," Clinton countered.
"A book about Walt Whitman?" the lawyer asked.
"I could have given her a gift, but I don't remember a specific gift," Clinton answered.
The president admitted shopping for gifts at the Black Dog gift shop in Martha's Vineyard, but said it was his secretary's idea and "I bought a lot of things for a lot of people."
"What in particular was given to Monica?" Jones' team questioned.
"I don't remember," Clinton said.
It's hard to make a perjury case against anyone who keeps saying, "I don't remember, I don't recall." And the president did that repeatedly.
Another example: Were they ever alone?
"At any time, were you and Monica Lewinsky alone together in the Oval Office?" Jones' lawyers asked.
"I don't recall. ... It's possible that she ... brought something to me and that at the time she brought it to me, she was the only person there. That's possible, " Clinton explained.
"At any time have you and Monica Lewinsky ever been alone together in any room in the White House?" the lawyers questioned.
"I have no specific recollection, " Clinton said.
"Have you ever met with Monica Lewinsky in the White House between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.?" the team asked.
"I just can't say that, there could have been a time when that occurred, I just -- but I don't remember it, " Clinton responded.
And as to whether the president coached Lewinsky to cover up their relationship, his testimony was so vague it could hardly conflict with anything Lewinsky says.
"Have you ever talked to Monica Lewinsky about the possibility that she might be asked to testify in this lawsuit?" the legal team asked.
"I'm not sure. ... I might have mentioned something to her about it ... I don't want to say for sure I didn't," Clinton said.
"What, if anything, did Monica Lewinsky say in response?" the lawyer asked.
"Nothing that I can remember," Clinton answered.
And what about the job interviews that presidential pal Vernon Jordan lined up for her? The president said he knew very little.
"I thought he had given her some advice about her move to New York. Seems like that's what Betty [Currie] said." Clinton said.
Betty Currie is the president's personal secretary.
The president claimed a foggy memory on almost every point, except sex. He said there wasn't any. Lewinsky reportedly says otherwise. It's as clear a conflict as one can imagine.
After Clinton is presumably asked Monday to clarify his vague answers, it will be up to Starr to sort out the legal consequences of any remaining conflict between the testimony of the president and the testimony of the 25-year-old former intern.
CNN's John King, Bob Franken and Brooks Jackson contributed to this report.
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