Lewinsky affair gave basis for Clinton conviction, counsel says

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton could have been indicted and probably would have been convicted in the scandal involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Independent Counsel Robert Ray contended Wednesday in his final report.

Writing his last chapter on the affair that damaged the former president's second term, Ray said Clinton lied in January 1998 testimony denying a sexual relationship with Lewinsky. Clinton also "impeded the due administration of justice" by drawing presidential secretary Betty Currie into his false account, Ray added.

"The independent counsel concluded that sufficient evidence existed to prosecute and that such evidence would 'probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction,"' said the report, quoting from Justice Department guidelines for bringing criminal cases.

Just before Clinton left office early last year, his lawyers made an arrangement with Ray that spared him from criminal charges in the Lewinsky affair. In addition to admitting that he "knowingly gave evasive and misleading answers" about his sexual relationship, the president surrendered his law license for five years.

Last-day confirmation

Ray said "the independent counsel's judgment that sufficient evidence existed to prosecute President Clinton was confirmed by President Clinton's admissions" on his last full day in office "and by evidence showing that he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice."

Revealing few new facts, Ray's assessment was criticized by Clinton defenders.

Julian Epstein, former chief Democratic counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, called the report's conclusions "a bone thrown to the right wing," which Epstein said was unhappy that the Lewinsky matter was settled short of indictment.

"The $70 million investigation of President Clinton from 1994 to 2001 was intense, expensive, partisan and long ... and there's nothing new in this report," said Clinton lawyer David Kendall.

Regarding Ray's findings in the Lewinsky matter, "it's not clear what the purpose of the report is other than to promote Robert Ray's Senate campaign, Monica Lewinsky's HBO special and the Paula Jones vs. Tonya Harding boxing match," said Jennifer Palmieri, a former spokeswoman for Clinton.

Ray acknowledges that he is considering seeking the nomination to challenge Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., but has not announced his candidacy or filed any paperwork.

But House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., called the report "a welcome event" that "will permit the public to evaluate fully President Clinton's misconduct and the Independent Counsel's investigation."

The report focused on two events: Clinton's testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit and his interaction with Currie, the presidential secretary he summoned to the White House for a meeting the day after that testimony.

"President Clinton's offenses had a significant adverse impact on the community, substantially affecting the public's view of the integrity of our legal system," said Ray.