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| For Immediate Release | |
| Mar 12, 1999 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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Helps Explain Lack of Real Effort in Filegate, Fostergate, and Other Non-Whitewater Matters STARR OWES FULL EXPLANATION TO CONGRESS FOR STATEMENTS DURING IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ABOUT FILEGATE AND TRAVELGATE (Washington, DC-March 12) By the accounts of all the people who know him, Kenneth W. Starr is a religious, decent and honest man. However, from the start of his assignment as independent counsel, it became apparent that he was not devoting enough of his own time to properly supervise the various matters assigned to him. This is the only way to explain his remaining at Kirkland & Ellis, at a salary over $1 million dollars per year, until recently. It is also the only way to explain his decision to leave to go to Pepperdine over one year ago. In fact, Starr did not think his presence or lack thereof made any difference to the various matters assigned to his office. During the impeachment hearings in the House, Starr strangely testified that he had found little to nothing in the Filegate and Travelgate investigations. Indeed, he has never issued a report. To the contrary, Judicial Watch has found substantial evidence of misuse of FBI and other government files, as well as illicit activity involving the Travelgate scandal. Much of this evidence came from Linda Tripp, who testified to Judicial Watch that Starr never asked her about what she observed in the White House Counsel's Office. Incredibly, Starr's deputies had tried to block Judicial Watch's deposition of Linda Tripp. In filing pleadings with the Court, some of the statements which were proffered were misleading, and created the impression that Judicial Watch's efforts to depose Tripp would compromise the independent counsel's Filegate investigation. However, when Tripp was deposed, it was learned that Starr and his deputies had never used her as an investigative source or witness. The latest fiasco with Charles Bakaly can only be explained in this context. Starr, who delegated most of the authority to his "career prosecutors," failed to properly supervise them. He relied on their decisions, acts and statements. He was not well-served, and now he will pay a heavy price. For Starr, like Clinton, is responsible for those who work under him. The buck stops at the top. The time has now come for Starr to not only clean up his shop, but also to admit that he has not conducted adequate investigations. |
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