Vernon E. Jordan Jr. to Testify Before Federal Grand Jury in White House Sex-and-Lies Investigation

Strategic Insights -

Washington insider and presidential friend Vernon E. Jordan Jr. will face questioning today before a federal grand jury investigating claims of a White House cover-up in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. According to sources, Jordan's testimony, twice postponed, is crucial to independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's probe and suggests prosecutors may be nearing the end of the Lewinsky phase of the investigation.

Jordan's confirmation of a cover-up could implicate President Clinton in an obstruction-of-justice charge and lead to an impeachment inquiry. His personal involvement in finding Lewinsky a job and a lawyer raises questions about his role in the scandal and whether the White House duped him in an effort to shield the president.

Key Takeaways

  • Vernon E. Jordan Jr. will testify before a federal grand jury on his involvement in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, potentially implicating President Clinton in obstruction-of-justice charges.
  • Jordan's confirmation of a cover-up could lead to an impeachment inquiry and force President Clinton to face potential prosecution.
  • Jordan's personal involvement in finding Lewinsky a job and a lawyer is under investigation, with questions arising about whether the White House duped him in an effort to shield President Clinton.
  • Jordan's job search for Lewinsky included securing an interview with Revlon, a company where Jordan sits on the board of directors.
  • Jordan's lawyer referral for Lewinsky included assistance in preparing a denial of sexual relationship with President Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit.
  • Lewinsky's attorney, William H. Ginsburg, suggests that brief, solo visits to the Oval Office do not necessarily imply a romantic relationship.
  • President Clinton's personal attorney, David E. Kendall, accused Starr's office of leaking grand jury information, requesting the court to hold Starr's office in contempt.

Statistics

  • 20 hours: Duration of secretly recorded audio tape recordings by Lewinsky
  • 37: Number of times Lewinsky visited the White House after being transferred to the Pentagon in April 1996
  • 7: Number of telephone calls between Jordan and Lewinsky while setting up job interviews
  • 4: Number of meetings between Jordan and Lewinsky, including the Dec. 19 meeting at Jordan's office where she disclosed being subpoenaed in the Paula Jones lawsuit
  • 1: Number of lawyer referral from Jordan to Lewinsky, Francis Carter, briefly represented her in the Jones lawsuit
  • Dec. 19: Date of meeting at Jordan's office where Lewinsky revealed being subpoenaed in the Jones lawsuit
  • Jan. 16: Date of Lewinsky's meeting with prosecutors at the Pentagon City Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where she described being involved sexually with President Clinton

Sources

  • The Washington Post, February 16, 1998
  • The New York Times, February 17, 1998
  • Associated Press, February 18, 1998