Transcript Of Donovan Campbell Comments
DONOVAN CAMPBELL, ATTORNEY FOR PAULA JONES: I'd like to make a brief statement first. As I
think everybody knows, the court has allowed us to say publicly
only that the deposition previously scheduled for today has been
indefinitely postponed. So that's what we can say, and that's
about all we can say about that.
QUESTION: Can you say you're disappointed?
CAMPBELL: Pardon me. Let me finish please.
On a broader note, let me say that this is a tragic
situation. It's a tragic situation for all involved -- for the
victim, for the presidency, for the judicial system for this
country, and for the world. We wish that this had not arisen,
but it has. Unfortunately sometimes a search for truth is
tragic and disappointing, and that's what it has been in this
case with respect to this particular matter. Now, I'll open it
up for a few questions.
QUESTION: What do you mean by tragic? If you could expand
on that.
CAMPBELL: Well, it's tragic that a young woman has been
drawn into a situation like this as a victim, and we consider
her to be a victim. It's tragic for the country that the office
of the presidency has to go through something like this. It's
tragic for the world because clearly the world is affected by
what's going on. And it's tragic for the judicial system that
possible indiscretions have occurred.
QUESTION: Mr. Campbell, given what you know -- and I realize
that we're on a very thin line here because of the deposition --
what do you think the outcome of this is going to be?
CAMPBELL: Outcome of what?
QUESTION: Well, the situation with the president now?
CAMPBELL: I have no idea about the situation with the
president. The outcome of the deposition, I expect, will be that
eventually Judge Wright will make a decision as to whether the
deposition will go forward.
QUESTION: But based on your knowledge of the president's
past, what can you tell us as your speculation about what we
will find out here?
CAMPBELL: I can't speculate about that. I can tell you that
Paula Jones intends to prosecute her case in every legal and
ethical manner. And we will continue to seek for the truth, and
we will continue to try to win the case.
QUESTION: Mr. Campbell, is your team in any way in contact
with Mr. Starr's office. Is there any level of cooperation
there, or have they subpoenaed any of your people or asked for
information from your team?
CAMPBELL: Well, we have received no subpoena from Mr.
Starr's office. And I think it is safe to say that there is no
communication between our office and Mr. Starr's office.
Whether either side would want it, I'm afraid it's just not
going to happen.
QUESTION: Would they have access to the president's
deposition in any way? Can you help me with the law in that
matter?
CAMPBELL: I really can't. That's -- Mr. Starr is dealing
with criminal procedure. We deal similarly with civil
procedure. I have no idea whether he can subpoena the
president's deposition or not.
QUESTION: For the record, what is your reaction to this
indefinite delay of her deposition today?
CAMPBELL: Well, we think...
QUESTION: How does it apply to your case and effect your
case?
CAMPBELL: With respect to our case, we think that the
temporary postponement will work for the good in our case.
QUESTION: Why is that?
CAMPBELL: The reason, I think, is that it will allow the
victim to collect her thoughts and spend some time with her
attorneys so that when she is ready for the deposition in the
civil case -- if, in fact, it goes forward -- she will be more
at ease in giving her testimony.
QUESTION: Mr. Campbell, do you want her to be offered
immunity?
CAMPBELL: Well, we want her to tell the truth, and whatever
encourages Monica to tell the truth is what we want.
QUESTION: Do you think this case is linked? Right now you
do not consider this case is linked in a particular way?
CAMPBELL: The only case I know about is our civil suit, so
I'm not sure what other case you're talking about.
QUESTION: Her sworn statement, thus far -- the affidavit
says that she did not have any sort of sexual relationship with
the president and was, in fact, [was not] approached [by] anybody trying to
suborn perjury or anything like that. That is her sworn
statement. Do you think that, that's going to contrast with
what you will get under oath?
CAMPBELL: I don't know, Bob. All I can [say] about her sworn
statement is what we read about in the press. That's subject to
a gag order, as you know, because it has been filed under seal
with the court. So if what the press says about her affidavit
is accurate, then we would hope that if and when she is deposed
in the Paula Jones case, she will tell the truth; whatever that
is.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) ... Monica Lewinsky about supporting
her in this case.
CAMPBELL: Pardon me?
QUESTION: Have you had any direct contact with Monica
Lewinsky at this point or previous?
CAMPBELL: No, we have not.
QUESTION: Mr. Campbell, has the criminal case effectively
trumped your case? Is your case on hold now because you can't
get a hold of this important witness?.
CAMPBELL: Well, of course, it is difficult for us to say
what process the criminal case will take because we're not
involved in that; we're not in on that, so to speak. I will say
that from the published media reports about the criminal
investigation, it appears to us that Mr. Starr's office is about
to catch up with us in terms of discovery and investigation. If
that's true, it's probable that Mr. Starr's office will soon
surpass us because they have so many more assets and research
capabilities and agents, and we are limited in that.
QUESTION: The point of the question is: Has the judge
effectively placed your case on hold and allowed Mr. Starr to
pursue?
CAMPBELL: I don't think so. I don't read it that way at
all. I think its normal for any federal court procedure for
criminal matters to take precedence over civil matters if they
are in the same court. These are not in this same court. The
criminal matter is not in any court right now that I am aware
of. Our civil matter, as you know, is in a federal court in
Little Rock, Arkansas. And I don't read the judge's ruling as
in any way slowing down our case for the criminal investigation,
per se.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) ... Starr tried to talk to other
witnesses in your case?
CAMPBELL: Well, I expect Mr. Starr will seek to subpoena and
talk to a number of witnesses; some of which may be witnesses in
our case, and some of which may not. I don't know.
QUESTION: Can you comment on the latest subpoena that you've
sent out to...
CAMPBELL: No, Ma'am, we cannot comment on any subpoenas.
Those are matters of discovery that are gagged by the judge in
our case.
QUESTION: Have you had access to any of these recordings?
CAMPBELL: Pardon me?
QUESTION: Have you had access to any of these recordings?
CAMPBELL: That will be a product of discovery. All products
of discovery in our civil case are gagged, and we can't talk
about it.
QUESTION: What's the next week like for you in the Jones
case?
CAMPBELL: Well, according to the published pleadings in this
case and the scheduling order, we have until January 30 to
complete discovery in the Paula Jones case. And there will be
vigorous discovery ongoing until January 30. That's all I can
say.
QUESTION: So what happens then if you can't have access to
Monica Lewinsky before January 30th?
CAMPBELL: That has been taken care of.
QUESTION: How so?
CAMPBELL: I can't tell you. That's been taken care of. Two
more question.
QUESTION: Mr. Campbell, how is your client reacting to all
of this? What has her impression been to what she's heard?
CAMPBELL: Well, I think Paula Jones is also saddened by what
has come out. In a way, if the allegations that have come out
are true, then it would serve to bolster the pattern or practice
evidence and pleading that Paula Jones has filed. But, Paula
feels like Monica is a victim, just like Paula is. And Paula
feels very sorry, and her heart goes out to all victims.
QUESTION: If the allegations are true, what does your client
and what do you think the repercussions should be for the office
of the presidency?
CAMPBELL: I can't address that. That's criminal matter.
That's a Constitutional matter. I'm only here to address the
Paula Jones civil suit, and whatever happens will happen. Thank
you. Thank you.
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