WASHINGTON, February 10: Turning up the pressure on Monica Lewinsky, prosecutors are demanding that the former intern appear before a federal grand jury this week, an appearance that her lawyers worked yesterday to block unless she is granted full immunity from prosecution.After a weekend in which tensions with independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr exploded publicly, lawyers for US President Bill Clinton and Lewinsky crafted their next moves in secret court filings.
David Kendall, the President's private lawyer, followed through with a promise he made Friday and filed a complaint in US district court over leaks of secret grand jury information in the investigation of an alleged presidential affair and cover-up.
"The filing is under seal, and we will have no further comment," saidKendall, who had promised to ask for contempt sanctions against the prosecutor's office.
In California, Lewinsky's attorney, William Ginsburg, was preparing a motion to quash a subpoena issued two weeks ago that compels hisclient to testify before the grand jury.
Prosecutors initially did not schedule a date for the appearance as they tried to reach a deal to secure Lewinsky's cooperation. But last week they withdrew an offer to give her full immunity in exchange for her testimony and then demanded that she appear before the grand jury this Thursday.
Individuals close to Lewinsky's defence said Ginsburg was preparing to go to court today to ask a judge to enforce the immunity deal or block Thursday's appearance. Such a filing would have to be kept confidential under grand jury secrecy rules.
Ginsburg declined to discuss the content of his motion, but told the AP of how damaging these leaks have been to Lewinsky in terms of her getting a fair public hearing, much less a trial if that is necessary.
Prosecutors have already informed Lewinsky she is a target likely to be indicted on possible charges of perjury and suborning perjury in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit.
There was talk, albeit hypothetical, aboutwhat would happen if Starr were to refer the results of his investigation to the US House of Representatives, where any impeachment proceedings must begin.
The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reported yesterday that Gingrich and other top leaders who met at a committee chairmen's meeting last week discussed dipping into a 4.4 million dollars fund to help bankroll impeachment proceedings. The fund was set up to cover unexpected investigative costs.
In the absence of a deal to give Lewinsky full immunity, she could invoke her fifth amendment right against testifying or prosecutors could compel her to testify under a grant of limited immunity.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
