May 4, 1999
Web posted at: 5:16 p.m. EDT (2116 GMT)

The lawyers recently asked Clinton's attorneys to see if Clinton would agree to the payment to settle the historic contempt ruling levied by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright.

John Whitehead, one of Jones' lawyers, said the attorneys did not receive adequate payment for their work when they received part of the $850,000 settlement Clinton paid to Jones earlier this year.

"As far as being greedy, everyone took far less than what they put in," said Whitehead.

Whitehead said Jones' attorneys will settle a final figure on Thursday and that it could exceed $300,000. The lawyers have until Friday to submit a reimbursement figure to a court in Little Rock.

Less than a month ago, Wright ruled that Clinton intentionally gave false testimony during his deposition in Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit. The judge ordered him to repay her lawyers any "reasonable expenses" they incurred for the deposition Clinton gave in Washington.

Robert Bennett, Clinton's private attorney, said the president would contest any amount that approached $300,000.

"That's what they suggested and it is outrageous and greedy and, I think, a gross misunderstanding of the court's order," Bennett said.

Any payments Clinton will make are in addition to the $850,000 he paid her earlier this year to settle her lawsuit which alleged that he made an unwanted sexual advance at a Little Rock hotel in 1991. At the time, Clinton was Arkansas governor and Mrs. Jones was a state employee.

Clinton denies any wrongdoing in the lawsuit, which was filed after he was elected president. He said he settled the sexual harassment case, which led to the disclosure of his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment proceedings, simply to bring an end to a public crisis.

Shortly after Wright issued her contempt ruling, Jones' lawyers estimated they would seek reimbursement for "tens of thousands" of dollars in legal expenses. Those expenses included their efforts to disprove Clinton's sworn denial of an affair with Lewinsky.

Wright ruled April 12 that Clinton gave "false, misleading and evasive answers" in the January 1998 deposition in which he denied having sexual relations with Lewinsky.

Wright ordered Clinton to pay "any reasonable expenses," including legal fees incurred by Jones as a result of the false testimony. The judge also directed Clinton to reimburse the court $1,202 for her travel to Washington to preside over the taking of the deposition.

Wright also referred the matter to the Arkansas Supreme Court's Professional Conduct Committee, which could revoke Clinton's law license or to impose other sanctions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tuesday, May 4, 1999

• Senate tables Kosovo resolution authorizing 'all necessary force'
• Willey says 'forceful' Clinton had 'hands all over me'
• Obuchi meets with senators
• Jones' lawyers want $300,000
• Latest audit recommends Dole repay $3.7 million
• Democrats seek all kinds of Senate candidates
• Clinton seeks controls over bank info
• Justice Breyer sees apathy, cynicism as threats to democracy
• Lawmakers warn of high-powered sniper rifle sales
• Lawmakers open hearings on violent kids
• Women asked to press lawmakers on Medicare

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