SUSAN MCDOUGAL ON TRIAL
				The Clinton Scandal Nov. 23, 1998 (Embezzlement Acquittal) Nov. 24 1998 Update March 8, 1999 (Jury Selection - Federal Trial) March 10 Update March 11 Update Discuss the Case March 16 Update March 18 Update March 22 Update March 23 Update March 24 Update March 25 Update March 30 Update April 1 Update April 2 Update April 5 Update (Morning) April 5 Update (Afternoon) April 7 Update (Morning)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Court TV) — Susan McDougal's defense was brought to a sudden halt Monday when he attorney raised concerns about potential juror bias against his client.

According to defense lawyer Mark Geragos a jail chaplain who knew McDougal told him that she had been contacted by a friend who was also a friend and neighbor of one of the jurors, Charles Adams of Hazen, Ark.

Judge George Howard, Jr. issued a subpoena for the chaplain and decided to put the trial on hold until Geragos' concerns could be resolved.

The neighbor, Geragos said, did not want to get involved in the controversy and refused a request to give a formal statement. But prosecutors said the neighbor did not have that right and Judge Howard wanted both sides to contact her for a formal statement. However, Judge Howard did not question the juror and told Geragos to file a formal motion if he wanted to pursue his complaint against Adams.

An alternate juror was dismissed because of ties between her family and the prosecution and defense. The allegations of juror bias came as McDougal's defense was to resume calling witnesses. McDougal is facing federal contempt charges for refusing to answer Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's questions about a failed land deal in the Whitewater scandal. Starr, McDougal claims, was out to "get" the Clintons, and she did not want her words manipulated to fit his political agenda.

McDougal is expected to testify this week. Geragos indicated he may ask her the same questions she refused to answer before Starr's grand jury in on Sept. 4, 1996 and April 23, 1998. McDougal is expected to continue to challenge the methods of Starr's prosecutors and portray them as litigators with an agenda who would do anything to fulfill their plans — and bring down the Clintons.

McDougal's defense may have had success with their strategy through the testimony of top Starr deputy prosecutor Hickman Ewing, Jr. Ewing told jurors he drafted an indictment of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton after concluding that they were untruthful. The first lady was never formally indicted. When asked if he thought the Clintons were "crooks and liars," Ewing admitted making the statement "in-house" to another member of Starr's staff.

The defense expected to call Little Rock attorney Richard Holiman, who represented Walter Kaye, a Whitewater grand jury witness and Clinton contributor who recommended Monica Lewinsky for her job as a White House intern.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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