*EPF508 01/19/01
Text: Statement by the Independent Counsel Jan. 19 in Clinton Case
(Clinton agrees to 5-year suspension of license in Arkansas) (950)
Independent Counsel Robert Ray announced January 19 that President Clinton had agreed to a five-year suspension of his license to practice law in the State of Arkansas.
White House Press Secretary Jake Siewert at the same hour (2pm Eastern Standard Time) was reading a statement by the President on the matter in the White House Briefing Room on Clinton's last full day in office.
In that agreement, Ray said President Clinton "acknowledged that he knowingly gave evasive and misleading answers in violation of Chief Judge Susan Webber Wright's discovery orders concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and that the conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice" in the civil case brought by Paula Jones against Clinton.
As a result of the agreement, Ray said he had decided to exercise his discretion "to decline prosecution" of the President.
Following is the OIC text:
(begin text)
Office of the Independent Counsel
Press Release:
Friday, January 19, 2001
Independent Counsel Robert W. Ray today issued the following statement:
President Clinton announced today his agreement to accept a five-year suspension of his license to practice law in the State of Arkansas. In that agreement, President Clinton acknowledged that he knowingly gave evasive and misleading answers in violation of Chief Judge Susan Webber Wright's discovery orders concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and that that conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice. In President Clinton's public statement, he acknowledged that he knowingly violated Judge Wright's discovery orders and that certain of his answers concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky were false. He also agreed not to seek legal fees in connection with this matter.
The country has reached the end of the tortuous path it has traveled for the last three years. By agreement with President Clinton, and upon entry of the Agreed upon Order of Discipline in Pulaski County Circuit Court, I have decided to exercise my discretion, consistent with the principles of federal prosecution, to decline prosecution of all matters within the January 16, 1998 jurisdictional mandate of the Special Division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. That mandate authorized this Office to investigate whether "Monica Lewinsky or others suborned perjury, intimidated witnesses, obstructed justice . . . or otherwise violated federal law . . . in dealing with witnesses, potential witnesses, attorneys, or others concerning the civil case Jones v. Clinton." That matter will be closed.
Fifteen months ago, I took an oath of office to conclude this investigation in a prompt, responsible, and cost-effective manner. In my judgment, I have fulfilled that promise.
I also pledged to heed the words of Justice Sutherland who wrote 60 years ago that the prosecutor's foremost obligation is not to win a case, but to ensure that "justice shall be done." This resolution, by agreement with President Clinton, means that justice has, in fact, been done. It is in the best interests of law enforcement and the country.
I also believe that this resolution is faithful to this country's principles of liberty and law. During World War II, Judge Learned Hand wondered "whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws, and upon courts." He went on to say, "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it." He believed that "[t]he spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the minds of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own without bias." Under the Independent Counsel statute, this Office is obligated to prepare and submit to the Special Division a report that "set[s] forth fully and completely the work of the independent counsel." Once filed with the Special Division, the final report remains under seal until such time, if at all, the Special Division authorizes its public release. Historically, public release occurs only after those persons named in a report are notified, pursuant to the statute, and have a full opportunity to read the relevant portions of the report that pertain to them and to prepare and file comments. This process typically takes several months after a report is filed.
Finally, I especially want to recognize and express my gratitude to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies for their contributions to the work of this Office. Those contributions have been critical to the appropriate conclusion of this and other investigations. Members of the grand jury sitting here in Washington, D.C. considering this matter since July also deserve our thanks.
It is my hope that the result announced today will help restore faith and trust in federal law enforcement efforts in investigations of high ranking government officials. When he was Attorney General, Justice Robert H. Jackson observed that "the citizen's safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility."
Upon Entry of the Order of Agreed Discipline, President Clinton will be discharged from all criminal liability for matters within the remaining jurisdiction of this Office. These matters are now concluded.
(end OIC text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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