Monica may testify today

WASHINGTON, Feb 11: Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky is likely to testify before the grand jury tomorrow in the sex-and-perjury pro...

WASHINGTON, Feb 11: Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky is likely to testify before the grand jury tomorrow in the sex-and-perjury probe targeting President Bill Clinton, according to her lawyer William Ginsburg.Independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr, who is investigating charges that Lewinsky had an affair with Clinton and that the President urged her to lie about it, issued a subpoena requiring her to testify before the grand jury.

However, Ginsburg warned his client may refuse to testify without full protection from criminal charges. 8220;She will not defy either a federal court order or a subpoena,8221; Ginsburg said.

He said Lewinsky, 24, has denied the affair which happened three years back under oath and she is expected to 8220;exercise all of her constitutional rights8221; an apparent reference to the fifth amendment that allows defendants to remain silent in order not to incriminate themselves.

In another development, Clinton8217;s lawyer David Kendall has asked the US district court for a contemptcitation against Starr for alleged leaks of the grand jury testimony.

Clinton last month had testified, 8220;I did not have sexual relations with that woman, miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time.8221;Meanwhile, White House press secretary Michael McCurry yesterday told Harvard University students that the Lewinsky affair was 8220;troubling8221; no matter who was telling the truth.

He ignored First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton8217;s claim that there was a 8220;vast8221; right wing conspiracy behind focus on the affair.

In a related development, socialite Marcia Lewis, mother of Monica Lewinsky, appeared before a grand jury in Washington to answer questions about the alleged affair.

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Lewis, 49, made no comment as she entered the court yesterday morning to appear before the 23 member jury. Lewis8217; lawyer Bill Martin had sought in vain to quash the subpoena requiring her grand jury appearance.