WASHINGTON, AUG 20: Any conflict between the testimonies of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton about the ``inappropriate relationship'' between them may be among the most serious legal threats facing the US President, The Washington Post reported today.Lewinsky, during her imminent testimony before the grand jury of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr probing the sex and perjury scandal involving her and Clinton, might contradict the President's description of their relationship and say it went beyond oral sex, it said.
The newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the ex-White House intern was miffed at Clinton' contention, while testifying on August 17, that he was a passive recipient of oral sex from Lewinsky and so was legally correct in denying a ``sexual'' relationship as defined by the judge in the Paula Jones case.
Lewinsky reportedly told the grand jury in her earlier testimony that Clinton was not merely a passive recipient of oral sex but that they had engaged in other sexualactivities that would be covered by the judge's definition.
In another development, White House press secretary Mike McCurrie said Clinton's DNA sample, to be used to see whether the alleged remains of body fluids in Lewinsky's navy blue party dress came from Clinton, could be obtained from the naval medical hospital.
Earlier, ABC television reported without specifying the date that Clinton had sent his DNA sample as an evidence following a request by Starr.
Clinton agreed to provide a sample of his DNA to Starr to see whether it matches the alleged semen stain on Lewinksy's dress, which she had given for examination to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) laboratory, ABC said.
The Post said another key issue at stake was whether Clinton was guilty of obstructing justice by persuading Lewinsky to get rid of the gifts subpoenaed in the Paula Jones case.
It said Lewinsky was surprised and hurt by Clinton's televised address on Monday, particularly because while he drew attention to his ownfamily's pain due to the disclosures, he never acknowledged the traumatic seven months she had undergone or apologised to her, her family or others caught up in the investigation against their wills.
His statement, she felt, according to The Post's source, appeared to disparage their relationship as a mere series of sexual trysts with no recognition of the gifts, including a book of poetry, and frequent telephone calls that indicated a deeper 18-month relationship.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.