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Johnson appoints special master to investigate leaks from Starr's office
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Court TV) -- Citing 24 instances of possible grand jury leaks to the news media, a federal judge ordered the appointment of a special master to help her investigate whether the independent counsel's office violated secrecy rules, according to documents unsealed today.
"Due to serious and repetitive prima facie violations" of grand jury secrecy rules, "a complete and thorough review of these allegations must be undertaken," wrote U.S. District Judge Norma Hollaway Johnson. The violations date back to Jan 21, the day the Monica Lewinsky story broke.
The outside expert, whose name was deleted from the newly released papers, has wide-ranging authority to subpoena documents from Starr's office and question current or former members of Starr's staff.
The news reports in question cited "federal law enforcement sources" and "sources close to independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr." Johnson noted that one television network news report "explicitly identifies `prosecutors' as disclosing evidence gathered as part of the grand jury investigation."
That story appeared on Jan. 22. on NBC and referred to the "talking points" memo that Lewinsky wrote for friend Linda Tripp in order to help her provide Clinton-friendly testimony in the Paula Jones case.
"This evidence, the `talking points' document, was likely to be presented to the grand jury," Johnson wrote. "The law in this circuit makes it perfectly clear that government attorneys may not reveal documentary evidence that is likely to be presented to the grand jury."
Clinton's attorneys have been accusing Starr of improprieties and pressing for an investigation of the independent counsel's office for months. One attorney, David Kendall, sent Starr a letter on May 6, accusing him of leaking the details of a ruling by Johnson that refuted a White House claim of executive privilege.
Kendall took his case to federal court. On June 19th, U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson ruled that Clinton's attorneys had made a case of improper leaks by Starr's office. Johnson ordered an investigation of the leaks and allowed Clinton's lawyers to take part. She told Starr to come forward with evidence to defend himself -- or be held in contempt of court. Starr still may face other penalties in this matter.
Starr appealed. On August 3, the appeals court upheld -- but modified -- Johnson's order, prohibiting White House attorneys from participating in the leaks investigation. But the burden of proof remains on Starr.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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