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Adviser: Clinton may not challenge contempt citation
April 14, 1999 WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 14) -- Rather than drag the nation back through the sex-and-perjury scandal that led to his impeachment, President Bill Clinton is likely to pay a financial penalty and not challenge a contempt-of-court ruling by the judge in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, a top adviser tells The Associated Press. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright found Clinton in civil contempt of court Monday for his "willful failure" to obey her repeated orders to testify truthfully in the Paula Jones case. Wright also ordered Clinton to pay Jones "any reasonable expenses including attorneys' fees caused by his willful failure to obey this court's discovery orders," directing Jones' lawyers to submit an accounting of their expenses and fees within 20 days. She also ruled Clinton must reimburse the court $1,202 for the judge's travel expenses. Wright traveled to Washington at Clinton's request to preside over what she now calls "his tainted deposition." Clinton has steadfastly maintained that the statements he made in the Jones deposition were "legally accurate." Officially the White House is still referring all questions to the president's attorney for the Paula Jones case, Bob Bennett. Bennett has said he is studying the ruling. A top adviser to the president, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that under the "most likely course" being considered by Clinton's legal team the president would pay the penalty, provided that Jones' demand for reimbursement was reasonable. However, Clinton, who is reportedly concerned about keeping his law license, may direct his attorneys to contest any regulatory effort in Arkansas to revoke it, the adviser said. Referring to the professional rule that states it is misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving "dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation," Wright also referred matter to the Arkansas Supreme Court's Committee on Professional Conduct to review Clinton's action and impose any disciplinary action it thinks is appropriate, including possible disbarment as a lawyer. White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said he was not aware that the White House was considering its own appeal on the constitutional point of separation of powers. Jones filed her lawsuit in 1994, alleging Clinton, when he was governor of Arkansas, made a crude advance in a room at a Little Rock hotel in 1991, and her career suffered because she rejected his overtures. She was a state worker at the time. Wright dismissed the lawsuit on April 1, 1998 but Jones appealed the decision. The appeal was pending when she and Clinton reached a settlement on November 13, 1998. Jones' lawsuit brought to light the president's affair with Monica Lewinsky and set in motion a criminal investigation that resulted in the House vote to impeach Clinton. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, April 14, 1999
• Clinton offers $300 tax credit plan • Starr: Independent Counsel Act should not be renewed • Adviser: Clinton may not challenge contempt citation • U.S., China agree to quickly resume trade talks • Elizabeth Dole touts foreign policy credentials at Naval Academy • Government tries to keep Nixon's daughter off witness stand • House OKs $1.74 trillion budget for 2000 • Congress moves on flag desecration constitutional amendment • Refugees tell harrowing tales to Senate panel • IRS finds no evidence of widespread violation of taxpayer rights • Bush to collect backing of four Iowa congressmen • Teens favor heavily advertised cigarettes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
