Text of Attorney General Janet Reno's Jan. 16 court petition seeking expansion of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's Investigation
January 29, 1998
In accordance with the Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act
of 1994, I hereby notify in writing the special division of the
court that I have commenced a preliminary investigation ... into
whether violations of federal criminal law were committed by Monica
Lewinsky or any other individual, as described below.
As a result of my inquiry into this matter, I request expansion
of the jurisdiction of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr to further
investigate and determine whether prosecution is warranted. The
court has already been informed of this matter and my request
orally.
The Department of Justice has received information from
Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr that Monica Lewinsky, a former
White House employee and witness in the civil case Jones v.
Clinton, may have submitted a false affidavit and suborned perjury
from another witness in the case.
In a taped conversation with a cooperating witness, Ms. Lewinsky
states that she intends to lie when deposed. In the same
conversation, she urges the cooperating witness to lie in her own
upcoming deposition.
I have determined that it would be a conflict of interest for
the Department of Justice to investigate Ms. Lewinsky for perjury
and suborning perjury as a witness in this civil suit involving the
president, in light of the allegations involved in the lawsuit.
I have also determined that the taped conversation establishes
that further investigation of this matter is warranted.
It would be appropriate for Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr to
handle this matter because he is currently investigating similar
allegations involving possible efforts to influence witnesses in
his own investigation. Some potential subjects and witnesses in
this matter overlap with those in his ongoing investigation.
Independent Counsel Starr has requested that this matter be
referred to him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 