Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Did Slick Boink Monica? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Zoltan! who wrote (3613)	1/30/1998 9:47:00 AM
From: Father Terrence	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 20981

Statement Claims Clinton Called Intern Linda Tripp Speaks Out ABCNEWS.com Jan. 29 - Former White House staffer Linda Tripp, in a statement released late tonight, depicted herself as a loyal administration worker who stumbled onto the alleged link between Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton. Tripp's statement was issued to various news agencies in Washington, including ABCNEWS. In it, Tripp said she overheard parts of a telephone call at 2 o'clock in the morning last November and that Lewinsky subsequently told her that she was talking to the president. "I was present when she received a late night phone call from the president," Tripp said in her statement, issued by her lawyer, Jim Moody. "I have also seen numerous gifts they exchanged and heard several of her tapes with him." Overheard Call While Visiting Tripp said she was staying overnight in the guest bedroom at Lewinsky's apartment in the Watergate and was awakened by a ringing telephone, Moody told The Associated Press. "Linda did hear parts of the conversation; I'm not going to characterize them, but the call lasted about 20 minutes," Moody said. "All of this is headed for the grand jury investigating the president." After the phone call was over, Moody said, the two women sat down together, Monica explained that it had been the president calling and they discussed the matter in detail. Moody said he also would not comment on that discussion. White House spokesman Barry Toiv declined to comment on Tripp's statement, the AP reported. Tripp Defends Lewinsky She described Lewinsky as "a bright, caring, generous soul-one who has made poor choices." "She was not a stalker; she was invited," Tripp said of Lewinsky. "She did not embellish, the truth is sensational enough." Tripp also complained of attempts to discredit Lewinsky. "She, as anyone else, should not be forced to defend her private life as a carefully orchestrated campaign is launched to discredit her," Tripp said. "As a parent of children close to Monica's age, I felt and continue to feel horror at the abuse of power and emotional anguish she has endured over a two-year period." Picture of a Public Servant Lewinsky reportedly befriended Tripp and told her of her alleged affair with Clinton. Tripp later surreptitiously taped her conversations with Lewinsky, and turned the tapes over to the office of independent counsel Kenneth Starr. In her statement, Tripp said she proudly serves as a political appointee and had never inserted herself into any alleged scandals in the Clinton administration until this month. But she acknowledged being a witness in Starr's investigation of White House lawyer Vince Foster's death and the firing of White House travel office employees in Clinton's first term. "I chose to contact Mr. Starr's staff because I had confidence in his fairness, thoroughness and integrity based on my experience during previous investigations," Tripp said in her statement.