Excerpt:
>>2. Current Status of the Investigation. When the OIC's jurisdiction was expanded to cover the
Lewinsky matter in January 1998, several matters remained under active investigation by this Office.
Evidence was being gathered and evaluated on, among other things, events related to the Rose Law
Firm's representation of Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan Association; events related to the firings in
the White House Travel Office; and events related to the use of FBI files. Since the current phase of the
investigation began, additional events arising from the Lewinsky matter have also come under scrutiny,
including possible perjury and obstruction of justice related to former White House volunteer Kathleen
Willey, and the possible misuse of the personnel records of Pentagon employee Linda Tripp.
From the outset, it was our strong desire to complete all phases of the investigation before deciding
whether to submit to Congress information -- if any -- that may constitute grounds for an impeachment.
But events and the statutory command of Section 595(c) have dictated otherwise. As the investigation
into the President's actions with respect to Ms. Lewinsky and the Jones litigation progressed, it became
apparent that there was a significant body of substantial and credible information that met the Section
595(c) threshold. As that phase of the investigation neared completion, it also became apparent that a
delay of this Referral until the evidence from all phases of the investigation had been evaluated would be
unwise. Although Section 595(c) does not specify when information must be submitted, its text strongly
suggests that information of this type belongs in the hands of Congress as soon as the Independent
Counsel determines that the information is reliable and substantially complete.
All phases of the investigation are now nearing completion. This Office will soon make final decisions
about what steps to take, if any, with respect to the other information it has gathered. Those decisions
will be made at the earliest practical time, consistent with our statutory and ethical obligations. << |
