Starr appears, defends Clinton probe

WASHINGTON, Nov 19: Independent counsel Kenneth Starr8217;s opening statement to the US House of Representatives judiciary committee vigorously defends his investigation of President Bill Clinton and alleges a pattern of abuse of power by the president, according to a copy of Starr8217;s testimony released on Wednesday.8220;This office has achieved a superb record in courts of law 8230; We go to court and not on the talks-show circuit, and our record shows that there is a bright line between law and politics,8221; he said in his testimony prepared for delivery on Thursday in which he alleges Clinton abused his power in the Monica Lewinsky case in 10 different ways.

8220;In short, the evidence suggests that the president repeatedly used the machinery of government and the powers of his office to conceal his relationship with Monica Lewinsky from the American people, from the judicial process in the Paula Jones case and from the grand jury,8221; he said in the testimony.Starr, who is the first witness in the committee8217;simpeachment inquiry, said his office considered making an impeachment referral to Congress in late 1997 on the Whitewater real estate deal and even drafted a report, but stopped short 8220;because of the difficulty of establishing the truth with a sufficient degree of confidence.8221; 8220;The pattern of obstruction of justice, false statements and misuse of executive authority in the Lewinsky investigation did not occur in a vacuum,8221; Starr said, citing an 8220;extraordinary8221; number of legal disputes with Clinton and his supporters that have blocked investigations and thrown up road blocks.

Committee chairman Henry Hyde said he will seek to issue subpoenas for four additional witnesses White House aide Bruce Lindsey, Clinton attorney Robert Bennett and Daniel Gecker and Nathan Landow who are linked to the case of former White House volunteer Kathleen Willey. Some Democrats were visibly angered by the new witnesses. 8220;I think the American people can rest assured this process is going to take a long time,8221; saidRepresentative Marty Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat. But Hyde pledged again to quickly conclude the inquiry. Democrats said they might object to calling Gecker and Landow, and questioned whether Bennett could be called at all despite Republican claims that the attorney-client privilege does not apply impeachment proceedings conducted by Congress.The White House said Clinton8217;s private attorney David Kendall would handle its questioning of Starr, but called Hyde8217;s 30-minute time limit on cross-examination unfair. Hyde had rejected a White House request for 90 minutes and warned they would not be allowed to ask about any matters unrelated to Starr8217;s impeachment referral.