House panel’s signals green for jury videotape release

Stating that the Democratic minority opposed the release he said, “We can tell you that we think what’s been done is right….Some of the material, however, is sexually explicit and I think that’s unfortunate.”

He said the Republican majority felt it had no option in view of Clinton’s continued denials that he lied about some aspects of his relationship with the former White House intern.

“But the fact and reality is that we have to do that becauseof the President’s insistence on the status of… his telling the truth in certain instances where Kenneth Starr, independent counsel, said he did not,” Mccollum said.

Henry Hyde, the Republican chairman of the committee, denied the debate on the matter had been rancorous but admitted partisan differences.

While it is unclear when exactly the tape reportedly containing lurid details of Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky will be released, Democrats have charged that Republicans want to use it to increase the pressure on the President to resign and sway the public ahead of mid-term congressional polls on November 3.

Sources said the tape showed Clinton becoming evasive and downright angry while testifying before the grand jury on August 17 on his sexual relationship with the former White House intern half his age.

Hyde told media persons, “There was a general view among the Democrats not to reveal anything, and there was a general view among the Republicans — as much as possible.”

He however said,some information on the tape would be blacked out to protect some witnesses.

Asked when the documents would be available Hyde said, “That’s a mechanical problem…. The documents have to get to the printer’s office. And as soon as they can produce them, they will be released simultaneously with the videotape.”

However, Chicago-based MPI Home Video said the four-hour tape titled “The grand jury testimony of William Jefferson Clinton” should be on store shelves within ten days after emerging from Congress and cost about $ 15 apiece.

Making the announcement moments after the House judiciary voted to release the video tape MPI said that due to the sexual nature of some of the questions and answers, the video packaging would contain a warning label.

Reacting furiously to the House committee decision, Democrats termed it as “partisan”.

Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts Barney Frank said, “Bipartisanship has simply not been part of the process.. If this is bipartisanship then the Talibanwins the medal for religious tolerance.”

Fellow Democratic member Martin Meehan condemned the release as “a serious mistake and a dangerous precedent to set for future generations.”