Little Rock Grand Jury Goes Home
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AllPolitics, May 5) -- The federal grand jury in Little Rock, Ark. used by Whitewater prosecutor Ken Starr to hear evidence in his probe of President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton has been disbanded.
"The grand jury in Little Rock has finished its term and they served with distinction," said Hickman Ewing, Starr's chief deputy in Little Rock.
In the last two years, the only person indicted by the grand jury was Susan McDougal, the former business partner of the Clintons in the Whitewater land deal.
McDougal was indicted Monday on criminal contempt and obstruction of justice charges for refusing to answer questions before the grand jury. McDougal already has served 18 months in jail after earlier being cited for contempt for her refusal to testify.
The grand jury was disbanded without an indictment against the first lady, who has been a major focus of the probe.
Sources say Starr would have to be certain of a conviction before he would proceed against the first lady, a standard some call impossible to reach.
The grand jury viewed five hours of taped testimony by the first lady as recently as last week. Of particular interest is legal work for Whitewater partners Jim and Susan McDougal, work that Mrs. Clinton did while employed by the Rose Law Firm.
Ewing was asked about reports that Starr was considering impaneling another grand jury in Little Rock.
"We don't have any plans," Ewing said.
Starr can still present testimony and evidence from his investigation to the grand jury that is still meeting in Washington.
The grand jury, which met regularly for two years, was made of up 23 Arkansas citizens.
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