Jones' Lawyers Advised Her About Financial Gains
They discussed selling her sealed affidavit
By Bob Franken/CNN
WASHINGTON (June 11) -- Paula Jones was warned by her attorneys, Joe Cammarata and Gilbert Davis, that she would "lose all prospects of financial reward from the selling of your sealed affidavit" if she did not settle her sexual harassment case against President Bill Clinton. The affidavit is the one in which she described the alleged "distinguishing characteristics" of Clinton's private parts.
Cammarata and Davis wrote Jones twice in August 1997 urging her to
accept an out-of-court settlement. She rejected that settlement and the two lawyers resigned.
These sealed letters have now been made public as part of the record as Jones appeals the "summary judgment" dismissal of her case.
Supporters close to the president say these letters give an insight into Jones' true motives.
Cammarata and Davis wrote, "You are in the best posture now to increase your financial gain from outside sources. If you decide not to settle, you will eventually have to turn over the affidavit and you will have to describe the distinguishing characteristics in discovery. It will be leaked by someone, as these things seem always to be, even if there is a protective order. There will be no value left to revealing this information to any other entity."
Cammarata declined to comment and Davis was not immediately available. Jones' new lawyers also were not available for comment.
"These letters just confirm what we have been saying since day one: This case is simply about money and hurting the president," Clinton's attorney, Bob Bennett, told CNN.
In their letters Cammarata and Davis wrote to Jones that there "is a
substantial possibility you may lose this case," but that
accepting an out-of-court settlement that included a $700,000
payment from the president's insurance companies would amount to "a complete victory."
Jones insisted a settlement include an apology. She changed legal
teams and subsequently saw the case dismissed by federal
Judge Susan Webber Wright.
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