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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Alan Smithee who wrote (8659)5/17/2006 10:22:36 PM
From: American Spirit  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 71588
 
Coulter's role in Paula Jones controversy

Coulter debuted as a public figure shortly before becoming a legal advisor for the attorneys representing Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton. Coulter wrote a column about the Paula Jones case for the magazine Human Events and then was asked to help write legal briefs for Jones. (* Coulter, a well-known expert in slander was "asked" by who" to help write the briefs? And paid by who?)

Coulter disagreed with the lead lawyer, Joseph Cammaratta, who advised Jones that her case was weak and to settle it. (Daley, 1999) From the onset, Jones had sought an apology from Clinton at least as eagerly as she sought a settlement. (Barak, 1998) However, Coulter said she believed the case was strong, that Jones was telling the truth, that Clinton should be held publicly accountable for his misconduct, and that a settlement would give the impression that Jones was merely interested in extorting money from the President. (Daley, 1999) (* Coulter had no basis to think the case was strong, it was all hearsay, but was good for a smear.)

David Daley, who wrote the interview piece for the Hartford Courant recounted what followed:

Coulter played one particularly key role in keeping the Jones case alive. In Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff's new book Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter's Story, Coulter is unmasked as the one who leaked word of Clinton's "distinguishing characteristic" — his reportedly bent penis that Jones said she could recognize and describe — to the news media. Her hope was to foster mistrust between the Clinton and Jones camps and forestall a settlement...
"I thought if I leaked the distinguishing characteristic it would show bad faith in negotiations. [Clinton lawyer] Bob Bennett would think Jones had leaked it. Cammaratta would know he himself hadn't leaked it and would get mad at Bennett. It might stall negotiations enough for me to get through to [Jones adviser] Susan Carpenter-McMillan to tell her that I thought settling would hurt Paula, that this would ruin her reputation, and that there were other lawyers working for her. Then 36 hours later, she returned my phone call."

The case went to court after Jones broke with Coulter and her original legal team, and was summarily dismissed. The judge ruled that even if her allegations proved true, Jones did not show that she had suffered any damages, stating "plaintiff has not demonstrated any tangible job detriment or adverse employment action for her refusal to submit to the governor's alleged advances.