DATE=7/17/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40953
TITLE=SECRET SERVICE / GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES HAS CLEARED THE
WAY FOR U-S SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO TELL A GRAND JURY WHAT THEY
MAY KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PERSONAL LIFE. THE GRAND JURY
IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE PRESIDENT HAD SEX WITH A FORMER
WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND THEN TRIED TO GET HER TO LIE ABOUT IT
UNDER OATH. SECRET SERVICE AGENTS GUARD THE PRESIDENT
ROUND-THE-CLOCK. AND THE FACT THAT THOSE AGENTS CAN NOW BE
CALLED TO TESTIFY ABOUT A PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS HAS RAISED
A DEBATE OVER WHETHER THIS COULD JEOPARDIZE WHITE HOUSE SECURITY
IN THE FUTURE. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE TAKES A LOOK AT THE
ISSUE.
TEXT: THE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WHO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT ARE
ANYTHING BUT SECRET. IN FACT, THEY SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE
PRESIDENT THAN ANYONE EXCEPT HIS FAMILY. EVERY TIME THE
PRESIDENT LEAVES THE WHITE HOUSE, AN ENTOURAGE OF SECRET SERVICE
AGENTS IN BUSINESS SUITS IS AT THE READY TO PROTECT HIM; THEY
CAN BE SEEN SPEAKING INTO TINY MICROPHONES WORN ON THEIR WRISTS,
LISTENING INTO EARPHONES AND CONSTANTLY SCANNING CROWDS FOR
POTENTIAL THREATS. THESE AGENTS ARE EVEN TRAINED TO TAKE AN
ASSASSIN'S BULLET, IF NECESSARY, TO SAVE THE PRESIDENT'S LIFE.
THE U-S SECRET SERVICE ARGUES THAT IN ORDER TO DO ITS JOB, IT
MUST HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S COMPLETE TRUST -- AND IT SAYS THAT
TRUST COULD BE LOST IF AGENTS ARE FORCED TO REVEAL WHAT THEY MAY
HAVE SEEN OR HEARD DURING THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS.
THIS WAS THE CORE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ARGUMENT: THAT SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS SHOULD BE SHIELDED FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE THE
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING THE PRESIDENT. IF NOT, THE ARGUMENT
GOES, PRESIDENT CLINTON OR ANY FUTURE PRESIDENT COULD DECIDE TO
MOVE OUT OF THE RANGE OF AGENT PROTECTION IF HE FEARS PERSONAL
MATTERS COULD BECOME PUBLIC.
LARRY SHEAF IS A FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SECRET SERVICE.
// SHEAF ACT //
THE SECRET SERVICE, TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES AS REQUIRED BY
LAW, MUST BE IN A POSITION TO COVER AND EVACUATE THE
PRESIDENT IN TIMES OF ATTEMPTED HARM OR DANGER. AND IF
THE PRESIDENT IS CONCERNED THAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT
HE IS HAVING COULD SOMEHOW END UP WITH AN AGENT
TESTIFYING ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS, HE'S NOT GOING TO
WANT THE AGENT THAT CLOSE TO HIM AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE
TO PERFORM THEIR JOB.
// END ACT //
FORMER PRESIDENT GERALD FORD IS AMONG THOSE WHO BELIEVE SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS SHOULD TESTIFY WHEN CALLED BY AUTHORITIES IN
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. JOHNATHAN TURLEY IS A PROFESSOR OF LAW AT
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
// TURLEY ACT //
WE'VE LONG REJECTED THIS MODEL OF A PERSONAL GUARD FOR
THE PRESIDENT. IN THIS COUNTRY, THE SECRET SERVICE HAVE
A DUTY THAT RUNS TO THE PUBLIC -- NOT TO THE PRESIDENT
AS A PERSON -- AND THEIR DUTY FIRST AND FOREMOST IS TO
UPHOLD THE LAW AND TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT FROM THE
CRIMES OF OTHERS, NOT FROM HIS OWN POTENTIAL CRIMES.
// END ACT //
BUT THE ISSUE IS NOT SO CLEAR IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER
PRESIDENT CLINTON BROKE THE LAW IN HIS SWORN DENIALS OF AN AFFAIR
WITH MONICA LEWINSKY. SECRET SERVICE AGENTS MAY HAVE SEEN OR
HEARD THE PRESIDENT TALKING TO THE FORMER INTERN -- BUT THEY MAY
HAVE SEEN NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. SO SHOULD AGENTS IN THIS CASE
BE FORCED TO TESTIFY? AGAIN, FORMER DEPUTY SECRET SERVICE
DIRECTOR LARRY SHEAF:
// SECOND SHEAF ACT //
AT THE TIME, IT JUST WASN'T A CRIME WHAT THEY MAY HAVE
OVERHEARD OR WHAT THEY SAW. NOW, (SINCE THE PRESIDENT
HAS DENIED AN AFFAIR UNDER OATH) IT HAS BECOME THAT WAY,
DOWN THIS LONG, CONVOLUTED ROAD. FOR INSTANCE, YOU
COULD HAVE AN EX-PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE IN DIVORCE COURT
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE (SECRET SERVICE) AGENT GETS
BROUGHT IN TO TESTIFY IN THE DIVORCE FOR SOMETHING HE
WITNESSED THAT AT THE TIME CERTAINLY WAS NOT A CRIME.
NOW IT'S BECOME AN ISSUE IN A CIVIL SUIT. AND THE
AGENTS JUST SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THAT NOR
SHOULD THE PRESIDENT OR THE PROTECTEE HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THAT.
// END ACT //
EVEN THOUGH AGENTS HAVE NOW BEEN FORCED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE
GRAND JURY IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER, THE SECRET SERVICE
MAINTAINS NONE OF THEM HAS INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE THAT COULD BE
USED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RRM
17-Jul-98 5:49 PM EDT (2149 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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