Judge Stays Action On Tripp Filegate Deposition
| Linda Tripp |
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sept. 4) -- Judicial Watch, an independent government watchdog
organization, will continue to seek a deposition from Linda Tripp regarding a
civil suit it has filed in the "Filegate" matter. "Filegate" refers to the Clinton Administration's acquisition of hundreds of FBI files of prominent Republicans during 1993 and 1994.
According to Judicial Watch director Larry Klayman, the deposition, which
was to take place Friday morning, was temporarily stayed by U.S. District Court
Judge Royce Lambert Thursday following motions filed by Independent Counsel Ken
Starr and Tripp's attorneys.
Judicial Watch wants to depose Tripp in relation to a $90 million
class action lawsuit filed on behalf of individuals whose files were obtained.
"That's a certainty that we will take her deposition," Klayman said. He
said Tripp "has let it be known that she has information about crimes that were
committed at the White House, in the White House Counsel's Office from 1993 to
1997."
Klayman called Tripp "the key witness in the Filegate case," and said
Tripp has confirmed that she has seen the FBI files of Republicans in the
office of the White House Counsel. She also claims to have witnessed the
copying of the files.
| Larry Klayman |
Klayman said that he believes the temporary stay might be lifted as early
as next week. He emphasized the necessity of deposing Tripp as soon as possible to continue the Judicial Watch investigation. He commented that the issue was of importance not only to his clients, but to the public as
a whole.
Klayman has filed a series of legal actions aimed at the Clinton Administration.
Through his nonprofit group, he has subpoenaed Clinton fund-raiser John Huang in 1996. This year he forced former Clinton aide Harold Ickes to testify and got Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon to admit under oath he leaked background information about Tripp.
Tripp is better known for her role in triggering the Monica Lewinsky investigation by giving Starr tapes she made of conversations with her onetime friend Lewinsky during which the former White House intern speaks of a sexual relationship with the president.
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