Clinton Whitewater Investigation Escalates Amid Lewinsky Affair Allegations

Strategic Insights -

The Clinton Whitewater investigation took a significant turn as Monica Lewinsky's lawyer, William Ginsburg, contradicted a claim made by a witness, Linda Tripp, that Lewinsky received a 2 a.m. phone call from President Clinton. The investigation has been ongoing for several months, with Lewinsky at the center of the controversy due to allegations of an affair with the President. As the case continues, multiple individuals have been called to testify before the grand jury, including Secret Service agents, White House officials, and a Democratic Club member in Maryland.

Key Takeaways:

  • Monica Lewinsky's lawyer, William Ginsburg, contradicted Linda Tripp's claim that Lewinsky received a 2 a.m. phone call from President Clinton, stating that Tripp was never privy to any conversation that Lewinsky had with the President.
  • Linda Tripp said she was present when Lewinsky received the phone call and that Lewinsky later told her it was the President who had called.
  • Ginsburg questioned the credibility of Tripp's statement, suggesting that it may be a publicity stunt for her upcoming book.
  • Efforts to reach an agreement with Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr for Lewinsky's testimony have stalled, with Starr likely to force Lewinsky to cooperate by obtaining a court order requiring her to testify before a grand jury.
  • The penalty for refusing to cooperate could be jail, as seen with Susan McDougal, who has been in jail since September 1996 for refusing to answer questions.
  • Secret Service agents received a legal victory when U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled they could ignore subpoenas from attorneys in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit.
  • The ruling does not apply to Starr's efforts, but could support the legal arguments the agency is prepared to use if Starr also subpoenas its agents.
  • Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott spoke before the Conservative Political Action Conference, stating that Americans shouldn't get carried away until all the facts are known, but emphasizing the importance of honesty, credibility, and integrity in government.
  • Clinton admitted having sex with Gennifer Flowers in 1977, as defined in her attorneys' broad definition of sex.

Statistics:

  • Monica Lewinsky allegedly received hundreds of hours of conversations with Linda Tripp over the past 15 months.
  • Lewinsky claimed to have made and received numerous phone calls of a volatile and contentious nature directly related to her relationship with the President.
  • Clinton admitted having sex with Gennifer Flowers once in 1977.
  • The Senate Whitewater investigation has been ongoing for several months, with multiple individuals called to testify before the grand jury.
  • Susan McDougal has been in jail since September 1996 for refusing to answer questions.

Sources:

  • Associated Press
  • Baltimore radio station WCBM
  • Conservative Political Action Conference
  • The Associated Press
  • Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit