WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The federal government Monday announced it is paying Linda Tripp and her attorneys $595,000 to settle allegations that the Department of Defense violated her privacy rights when confidential information about her was disclosed during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
In addition, the government agreed to retroactively give Tripp three annual outstanding performance evaluations for her work at the Department of Defense, increasing the value of her retirement.
Tripp sued the government when Pentagon officials leaked information from the government background investigation about her, which included the fact that she was arrested as a juvenile in a case involving drinking alcohol; she was never charged.
Tripp became widely known as the woman who taped conversations with Monica Lewinsky to document the White House intern's secret relationship with then-President Bill Clinton. Her disclosure of the tapes helped pave the way for Clinton's impeachment.
When government officials leaked the information on Tripp's background, she sued in federal court in Washington.
Tripp Monday issued a written statement through her attorneys: "The government should never be permitted to use Privacy Act-protected information to discredit political opponents. This is a long-awaited first step toward holding the government accountable."
"Today the Department of Defense has accepted liability. My ultimate goal is to ensure that any sitting president be required by law to honor the Privacy Act regardless of political motive," Tripp said.
The Justice Department, which represented the government in the case, had no comment.
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