Limits of Power of the Independent Counsel

▪ 1999

      On Sept. 9, 1998, the report of the Office of the Independent Counsel (OIC) was presented to the U.S. Congress. The culmination of a four-year, $40 million investigation by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr (see BIOGRAPHIES (Starr, Kenneth W. )) into the conduct of U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton (see BIOGRAPHIES (Clinton, Bill )), the report concluded that "substantial and credible information" existed that Clinton had committed acts that constituted possible grounds for impeachment. As the American public absorbed the salacious details of Clinton's sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern half his age, some questioned the broad powers granted to Starr to unearth such information.

      The OIC (also known as a special prosecutor) was established under federal statute to conduct politically sensitive investigations. Special prosecutors played prominent roles in both the Watergate and the Iran-Contra affairs. In both these earlier cases, however, the purpose of the investigation was clearly defined from the outset. Starr's investigation, on the other hand, changed focus several times, which led some observers to suggest that its goal was not to expose the truth but to disable the president politically. The administration pointed out that in 445 pages the report referred only twice to the Whitewater land deal, the original target of the investigation, whereas it referred to the issue of sex more than 500 times.

      More significant concerns, however, arose from the OIC's ever-expanding jurisdiction. Under the terms of the independent counsel statute, if the OIC uncovers criminal conduct not within its jurisdiction, it may ask the Department of Justice to conduct its own preliminary investigation to determine whether to expand the OIC's jurisdiction. In January 1998 the OIC requested such additional jurisdiction, claiming that evidence existed that Clinton and Lewinsky were planning to commit perjury in the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit. The additional jurisdiction was granted on the basis of audiotapes made by Linda Tripp, a friend of Lewinsky, of conversations between the two. The Clinton administration cried foul, claiming that Starr's use of Tripp to obtain the information was an unlawful expansion of the investigation. Starr for his part said that Tripp had come forward with the allegations herself and that the OIC had a duty to conduct its own preliminary investigation prior to seeking increased jurisdiction.

      Despite misgivings about the broad scope of the OIC probe, the Starr report was submitted to the House Judiciary Committee. Starr had used his statutory powers to the fullest extent allowed by law. On December 19, the House voted two articles of impeachment against President Clinton.

JOHN H. MATHEWS

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