Susan McDougal Fights Grand Jury Summons
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AllPolitics, April 17) -- The lawyer for Susan McDougal is fighting efforts by Whitewater prosecutors to force his client before a Little Rock grand jury next week.
McDougal, a former Whitewater business partner of Bill and Hillary Clinton, recently completed an 18-month jail term on a civil contempt citation for a previous refusal to testify. She remains in jail facing other unrelated charges.
Attorney Mark Geragos claims Independent Counsel Ken Starr issued the summons to McDougal in response to a complaint Geragos filed Tuesday asking a judge to bar Starr from investigating allegations against key Whitewater witness, David Hale.
Hale, who has testified against McDougal, is alleged to have received money from conservative groups while cooperating with Starr's office. The Justice Department has asked Starr to conduct the investigation of Hale, deciding it falls into his jurisdiction.
"It's my position that [Starr's] conflicted and he can't do anything regarding Susan at this point," Geragos said. "I will take steps to block her appearance."
Geragos sent a letter Thursday to Starr and Attorney General Janet Reno, requesting McDougal be released from jail until the inquiry into alleged payments to Hale is complete.
In 1996, Hale testified against McDougal and her co-defendants, James McDougal, her late husband, and former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. All three were convicted.
|
News
Starr