Word: starrs
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...days ahead, Tripp may ponder her own legal culpability. The New York Times reports that Starr granted her immunity, but some of her recordings--those made in Maryland, which requires both parties to consent to taping--may violate state laws beyond Starr's purview. Indeed, if she wanted the attention that comes with exposing a politician's faults, she may have got much more of it than she ever sought...
Lewinsky has reportedly denied the affair in a sworn affidavit given to Starr, which he is now using as a lever. If he is able to "flip" her by threatening to bring criminal charges against her, it would set up a "he said, she said" standoff, with an uncertain outcome. But if she sticks to her denial--and says any claims of an affair on Tripp's tapes were just talk--Starr might have a difficult time. Of course, any tapes of Clinton leaving a message on Lewinsky's answering machine, if they exist, might help Starr. He could also...
...with suborning perjury--encouraging a witness to lie under oath--and obstruction of justice. Lewinsky has reportedly said on tape that Clinton and Jordan tried to get her to lie about the alleged affair. Both men have denied it. Here too, much depends on whether Lewinsky testifies against them. Starr might have trouble getting a conviction for suborning perjury if all the principals agree it didn't happen. And again, much would turn on context and precise words. If the two men just gave her general advice to be discreet--not advising her about what to say in a deposition...
Suborning perjury, or at least conspiring to, may be the strongest charge against Lewinsky. Starr reportedly has a set of written "talking points," which appear to have been written by a lawyer, that Lewinsky used to urge Tripp to tailor her testimony to protect Clinton. That could be conspiracy to suborn perjury. This talking-points document is already being touted as Starr's strongest weapon to force Lewinsky to cooperate in a case against Clinton...
...Starr could also possibly pursue an array of conspiracy charges. If Clinton worked through Jordan or another intermediary to get Lewinsky to lie, as has been alleged, it could be conspiracy to suborn perjury or obstruct justice. The same would be true if Clinton and Jordan discussed getting Lewinsky a job in exchange for her false testimony, or if anyone inside the White House or out helped her prepare the talking points for Tripp...