Office of the Independent Counsel
Thursday, June 22, 2000
Independent Counsel Robert W. Ray issued the following statement today:
The Office of the Independent Counsel ("OIC") has concluded an
investigation commonly known as the Travel Office matter. This
matter concerned allegations that David Watkins, former Assistant
to the President for Management and Administration, and First
Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton made false statements in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1001, committed perjury in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 1621, or obstructed justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503,
in connection with their statements and testimony concerning the
May 19, 1993 firing of seven employees of the White House Travel
Office. The Independent Counsel has concluded that the evidence
was insufficient to prove that Mr. Watkins or Mrs. Clinton made
any knowingly false statements, committed perjury, or obstructed
justice in this matter.
With respect to Mr. Watkins, the evidence was insufficient to
show that his statements regarding whether Mrs. Clinton ordered
him to fire the Travel Office employees or that she pressured him
to do so were knowingly false. Although there was some evidence
that Mrs. Clinton's involvement had the effect of pressuring him
to fire the Travel Office employees, that evidence was
insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr.
Watkins's statements and testimony regarding that issue were
knowingly false.
Similarly, with respect to Mrs. Clinton, there was substantial
evidence that she had a "role" in the decision to fire the Travel
Office employees. She had discussions with Deputy White House
Counsel Vince Foster, Chief of Staff Mack McLarty, and longtime
friend and advisor Harry Thomason, and one direct telephone
conversation with David Watkins (whose responsibilities included
oversight and management of the Travel Office) in which she
expressed her "concerns" regarding the Travel Office. These
individuals discussed her concerns among themselves, which
produced a momentum to take immediate action. Thus, Mrs.
Clinton's concerns ultimately influenced Watkins's decision to
fire the Travel Office employees.
Nevertheless, the evidence was insufficient to prove to a jury
beyond a reasonable doubt that any of Mrs. Clinton's statements
and testimony regarding her involvement in the Travel Office
firings were knowingly false. Accordingly, the Independent
Counsel has declined prosecution of Mrs. Clinton as well.
This Office reached its conclusions only after completing an
extensive investigation through the assistance of criminal
investigators and FBI agents already detailed to this Office.
These conclusions are the culmination of the investigative work
of these agents and more than 10 attorneys, including Assistant
United States Attorneys detailed by the Department of Justice to
this Office, other career prosecutors, and senior OIC staff.
The investigation included a review of the voluminous record
created by investigations by the House Committee on Government
Reform and Oversight, the General Accounting Office, the
Department of Justice Public Integrity Section and Office of
Professional Responsibility, the Inspector General for the
Department of the Treasury, and the White House Management
Review.
In contrast to the cooperation received from the White House in
the FBI Files investigation, concluded in March of this year,
this Office experienced substantial resistance in its efforts to
obtain relevant evidence in the Travel Office matter. For
example, the White House asserted unfounded privileges that were
later rejected in court. White House officials also conducted
inadequate searches for documents and failed to make timely
production of documents, including relevant e-mails, in their
possession. Despite these and other obstacles that substantially
delayed the receipt of relevant evidence by this Office, the
Independent Counsel has concluded that the investigation may now
be closed.
This announcement, like the announcement at the conclusion of the
FBI Files matter, is consistent with the statutory requirement
relating to the conclusion of an investigation. At that time, an
independent counsel is required by statute to submit a final
report that "set[s] forth fully and completely the work of the
independent counsel." Congress has explained that the scope of
this provision requires "independent counsels . . . to provide
a summary of the key steps taken in the investigatory and
prosecutorial stages of their work and to explain the basis for
their decisions." Congress described it as "crucial" to have "a
discussion of the conduct of the person for whom the independent
counsel was appointed to office." This announcement serves to
provide timely information to the public concerning the findings
of the investigation with respect to Mr. Watkins and Mrs.
Clinton.
Under the Independent Counsel statute, a report filed with the
Special Division remains under seal until such time, if at all,
the Special Division authorizes its public release.
Historically, public release occurs only after those persons
named in a report are notified, pursuant to the statute, and have
a full opportunity to read the relevant portions of the report
that pertain to them and to prepare and file comments. This
process typically takes several months after a report is filed.
This Office has now concluded its investigation into allegations
relating to Mr. Watkins's and Mrs. Clinton's statements and
testimony concerning the Travel Office firings and has fully
discharged both of them from criminal liability for matters
within this Office's jurisdiction in the Travel Office matter.
The matter is now closed.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
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