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 claim that Whitewater investigators mistreated her is about to receive support from fellow indictee Julie Hiatt Steele, a Virginia woman who was once friends with Kathleen Willey.

Willey accused President Clinton of making unwanted sexual advances to her in 1993, and Steele says that Willey asked her to lie to back up her accusation. Steele was subsequently indicted for obstruction of justice and making false statements. Her trial begins May 3.

McDougal's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said Steele will bolster McDougal's claim that Kenneth Starr's office mistreated her by showing that such behavior was simply modus operandi for his prosecutors.

McDougal is on trial for criminal contempt and obstruction of justice because she refused to be questioned by Starr's investigators.

She said she didn't trust them and believed they either twist her words to suit their purposes or would accuse her of perjury if they didn't like her answers.

After maintaining that stubborn silence for the past three years, McDougal has hardly been at a loss for words at her trial, which is now entering its second month. In five straight days on the stand, McDougal asserted repeatedly that Starr was unfair to her and was simply out to get President Clinton.

Her late ex-husband, James McDougal, cooperated with Starr after the McDougals were convicted of fraud in 1996 but Susan McDougal refused.

She has testified that her husband made up stories for Starr's prosecutors, and asked her to lie to assist their investigation. She also said her husband suggested that she invent an affair with the president.

Although Susan McDougal is the one on trial, it is the prosecutors who have been repeatedly thrust upon the defensive by her accusations.

After U.S. District Court Judge George Howard Jr. agreed to put Steele on the stand, prosecutor Mark Barrett protested "we've been on the defense since the defense case began, but this is a different level."

Steele's testimony, he said, would prolong the trial for several more weeks. Steele contends that she gave accurate information to the FBI and the grand jury but was indicted nonetheless.

She claims that Starr's prosecutors questioned her brother, her accountant, her neighbors and friends, and one of her daughters. She also accuses them of inquiring into the adoption of her 8-year-old son.

Steele will take the stand Friday, despite prosecutors' pleas for time to file written arguments or at least to get up to speed on her case. McDougal's trial was not in session Thursday.

On Wednesday, Susan McDougal's friend Claudia Riley testified that James McDougal did urge Susan to cooperate with Starr and promised that her cooperation would help her get out of trouble.

In 1996, Susan McDougal was under investigation for stealing money from the wife of conductor Zubin Mehta and her federal tax returns were about to be scrutinized by a grand jury.

Court TV's Catherine Heins and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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