"Starr.Remarks" - читать интересную книгу автора (impeachment)

Starr's Remarks

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome this opportunity to appear before
the committee and to provide information relating to the committee's
inquiry into possible impeachable offenses by the president of the
United States. This is my first opportunity to publicly report on
certain issues related to our investigation. I look forward to doing
so and assisting the committee.

I. Introduction

I appreciate both the seriousness of the committee's work and the
gravity of its assignment. I have reviewed the statements made by the
37 committee members in the Oct. 5 hearing. Any citizen who watched
that hearing would have been impressed by the depth and breadth of the
discussion that day, and proud of the diligence with which members of
this committee are approaching this extraordinarily difficult and
unwelcome task. I appear before you today, therefore, fully
recognizing the solemnity and importance of this process.

As you know, in January of this year, Attorney General Reno petitioned
the three-judge panel that oversees independent counsels to authorize
our office to investigate whether Monica Lewinsky or others committed
federal crimes relating to the sexual harassment lawsuit brought by
Paula Jones against President Clinton. Our office conducted a swift
yet thorough investigation. We completed the primary factual
investigation in under eight months, notwithstanding a number of
obstacles in our path.

The law requires an independent counsel to report to the House of
Representatives substantial and credible information that may
constitute grounds for an impeachment. On Sept. 9, pursuant to our
statutory duty, we submitted a referral and backup documentation to
the House. I am here today at your invitation in furtherance of our
statutory obligation.

I recognize that the House of Representatives – not an
independent counsel – has the sole power to impeach. My role here
today is to discuss our referral and our investigation.

II. Lewinsky Investigation

A. Overview

Let me begin with an overview. As our referral explains, the evidence
suggests that the president made false statements under oath and
otherwise thwarted the search for truth in the Jones v. Clinton case.
The evidence further suggests that the president made false statements
under oath to the grand jury on Aug. 17.