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In the debate about President Clinton, I have heard statements echoed back to me about special prosecutor Kenneth Starr that are completely preposterous. Clinton apologist James Carville has publically declared war (Carville's words) on Ken Starr. And since then, both he and the White House have been relentless in their attack on him. Most of what you know and think about Kenneth Starr comes from what the White House has said about him. But just how much of this is valid, and how much is pure character assassination?
Now, Kenneth Starr does not need me to defend him; he has the law on his side. But I am tired of the lies and misstatements about him. I am going to try to set the record straight.
The Lie: Starr sent Susan McDougal to jail because she would not
testify.
The Truth: Starr subpoenaed her; she refused to testify. A judge
in Arkansas put her in jail for contempt of court. Kenneth Starr had
nothing to do with it.
The Lie: Starr wanted Susan McDougal to lie.
The Truth: If you buy that line, you'd have to picture this
scene: Starr is sitting on one side of a table; Susan McDougal and her
attorney are sitting on the other side. Starr says, "Now Susan, I want
you to testify that Bill Clinton broke the law." Susan replies, "But
that would be a lie." Starr counters, "That's OK; just say it." And
Susan McDougal's lawyer just sits there silently while Starr tells his
client to lie. That is absolutely preposterous. It is absolutely
impossible.
The Lie: Starr is out to get Clinton because Clinton's election
kept Starr from being appointed to the Supreme Court.
The Truth: Starr was passed over for a Supreme Court appointment
more than once... during the Bush administration. Kenneth Starr has made
no public statements about being "out to get" the President - none. But
James Carville and the White House have declared war on him.
The Lie: Starr has spent over 50 million dollars investigating the
President, and come up with nothing but a sex scandal.
The Truth: Starr has more than a dozen convictions as the result
of his investigations. And he is not done yet.
The Lie: Starr decided to go after Clinton's sex life when he
could not come up with anything else on Clinton.
The Truth: Starr does not have the authority to investigate
anything he wants. Starr was given tape recorded evidence of possible
perjury and obstruction of justice. He took that evidence to the
Attorney General. She presented it to the three-judge panel, and they
authorized Starr to investigate the matter. And his report to the
Congress contains a huge amount of evidence not related to sex; he never
accuses Clinton of adultery.
The Lie: Starr is a partisan politician who is just out to get
Clinton.
The Truth: Before he was appointed special prosecutor, Starr had a
record of being a tough but respected, fair judge. The White House
praised his credentials when he was appointed.
The Lie: Starr told Clinton that if he just admitted to the affair
with Lewinsky that he would drop the investigation and that all would be
forgiven.
The Truth: This is simply ridiculous. Starr is required by law to
send a report to the House of Representatives. He has no ability to
drop the investigation and forgive all.
The Lie: Starr is just "piling on" by requesting DNA tests on the
dress and including so many sexual details in his report. After all,
Clinton has already admitted he had sex with Monica Lewinsky. This just
shows he is out to get the president.
The Truth: As far as we know, Clinton had admitted only to an
improper relationship with her; he has not admitted publicly to having
had sex with her; in fact, his lawyers are still denying it. And even if
he did so in his testimony, Ken Starr has a professional obligation to
gather and present all the evidence he can. If he suspects he has
evidence of a crime (in this case, the crime is perjury, not adultery)
and he failed to investigate or report it thoroughly, he would rightly be
accused of gross professional incompetence.
The Lie: Starr has dragged this investigation on for four years in
an attempt to embarrass the President.
The Truth: Despite the claims to the contrary, the White House has
put up every obstruction it could to hinder Starr's investigation. And
Bill Clinton maintained a lie for seven months, which, among other
things, cost both time and money.
The Lie: Starr and his staff have illegally leaked information to
the press.
The Truth: A witness to a grand jury is allowed to reveal what
he/she said before the jury. Witnesses and their attorneys are allowed
to compare notes, plan strategy, and reveal whatever they want. All
information which makes it into the press is not the result of illegal
"leaks." The press knows who has improperly "leaked" information. If
Ken Starr and his staff had done so, we would know about it, for sure.
The Lie: Starr's report is about nothing but sex.
The Truth: That is what the White House would like you to believe.
But they and everybody in Washington knows different. They know that
the perjury and obstruction of justice evidence is extremely serious.
That is why they want to focus attention on the sex. And if they can
convince you that it is just about sex, you will turn against Starr, and
that will be the end of it.
So let's see now... which side has lied again and again, and obstructed again and again in this matter? And which side do you believe?
Copyright © 1998-2000 Baby Boomer HeadQuarters (BBHQ) All rights reserved.
rev. 05/17/00