DATE=4/23/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40138
TITLE=STARR/SECRET SERVICE
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR IS WAGING A LEGAL
BATTLE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND TREASURY OVER WHETHER
HE HAS THE RIGHT TO COMPEL TESTIMONY FROM SECRET SERVICE AGENTS
IN THE PROBE INTO SEX AND PERJURY CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT
CLINTON. THE SECRET SERVICE HAS LONG MAINTAINED ITS
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GUARDING THE PRESIDENT COULD BE COMPROMISED
IF AGENTS WERE FORCED TO TELL ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AND HEAR DURING
THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT JIM
MALONE HAS MORE ON WHAT IS TURNING OUT TO BE A PROTRACTED LEGAL
STRUGGLE.
TEXT: THE SECRET SERVICE HAS A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY. IT BEGAN
UNDER THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT AS A SELECT UNIT TARGETING
COUNTERFEITERS AND FORGERS. FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY IN 1901, THE SECRET SERVICE TOOK ON A
NEW ROLE -- PROTECTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
/// RADIO REPORTER ACT. ///
WE UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING. THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAR COMING UP NOW. WE KNOW IT IS THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAR. YOU CAN SEE MRS. KENNEDY'S PINK SUIT.
THERE IS A SECRET SERVICE MAN SPREAD-EAGLED OVER THE TOP
OF THE CAR. (FADES)
/// END ACT. ///
THE SECRET SERVICE SUFFERED ITS MOST SEVERE SETBACK IN 1963 WHEN
PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED WHILE RIDING IN AN OPEN
LIMOUSINE IN DALLAS, TEXAS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE KENNEDY
ASSASSINATION, THE SECRET SERVICE REVISED ITS SECURITY TECHNIQUES
AND PRIDES ITSELF AS THE FINEST PROTECTIVE SERVICE IN THE WORLD.
NOW, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR WANTS TO COMPEL SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY IN HIS ON-GOING PROBE INTO ALLEGATIONS
OF SEX AND PERJURY INVOLVING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND FORMER WHITE
HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY.
THE DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND TREASURY OPPOSE THE REQUEST,
FEARING THAT FORCING SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT
THEY SEE AND HEAR DURING THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS COULD
COMPROMISE THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT HIM.
FORMER UNDERSECRETARY OF THE TREASURY RON NOBLE SERVED EARLIER IN
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSAW THE SECRET SERVICE. HE
OPPOSES THE STARR REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY AND EXPLAINED WHY IN AN
INTERVIEW ON THE N-B-C "TODAY" PROGRAM.
/// NOBLE ACT. ///
IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB, THEY NEED TO BE CLOSE
TO THE PRESIDENT. IN ORDER FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TRUST
THEM, THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY
WILL NOT REVEAL PRIVATE THINGS THEY SEE OR HEAR WHILE ON
DUTY.
/// END ACT. ///
BUT KENNETH STARR HAS FILED PAPERS IN FEDERAL COURT ARGUING THE
TESTIMONY OF SECRET SERVICE AGENTS COULD BE CRUCIAL IN HELPING
HIM DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE PRESIDENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
MONICA LEWINSKY. THAT IS A VIEW SUPPORTED BY A FORMER ASSOCIATE
WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, ALAN RAUL, WHO
WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED ON THE "TODAY" PROGRAM.
/// RAUL ACT. ///
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND THE
PUBLIC HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST IN A THOROUGH,
UNIMPEDED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
/// END ACT. ///
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO FILED COURT PAPERS OPPOSING THE
STARR REQUEST. THOSE PAPERS INCLUDE A LETTER FROM FORMER
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, WHO SAYS HE IS DEEPLY TROUBLED ABOUT THE
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR. CLINTON, BUT OPPOSES FORCING SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY. THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS REMOVING
THE GUARANTEE OF CONFIDENTIALITY COULD LEAD FUTURE PRESIDENTS TO
DISTRUST THE AGENTS WHO GUARD THEM, AND THAT IN TURN COULD PUT
THEM AT RISK.
/// OPT /// ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO SAYS IT IS UNCLEAR IF
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND MR. STARR WILL BE ABLE TO WORK OUT A
COMPROMISE ON THE ISSUE OF SECRET SERVICE TESTIMONY.
/// RENO ACT. ///
WE ARE ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
BY WORKING TOGETHER AND TALKING IT OUT. I DO NOT KNOW
WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE THE
ISSUES BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY MY GOAL.
/// END ACT. ///
/// END OPT ///
THE GRAND JURY PROBING THE CLINTON ALLEGATIONS HAS HEARD
TESTIMONY FROM A FORMER UNIFORMED SECRET SERVICE OFFICER WHO SAYS
THE PRESIDENT SPENT NEARLY AN HOUR ALONE WITH MONICA LEWINSKY IN
THE OVAL OFFICE IN LATE 1995.
THE PRESIDENT HAS DENIED HE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MONICA
LEWINSKY AND SAYS HE NEVER TOLD ANYONE TO LIE ABOUT THE NATURE OF
THEIR RELATIONSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/RAE
23-Apr-98 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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