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 For Immediate Release
Aug 10, 1998 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172


Clinton White House smear campaign to be stepped up

Salon Magizine warns of 'Ellen Romstsch' strategy

Same Pattern of Conduct As Filegate

The Internet magazine Salon, a schill for the Clinton White House, boasted last Wednesday of a "scorched-earth plan" to dig up dirt on critics of the Clinton Administration to protect against impeachment. George Stephanopoulos first talked about this "Ellen Rometsch strategy" in early February, when he said there was an effort by "White House allies" to "bring down" perceived adversaries of the Clinton Administration by airing their dirty linen. Historically, the "Ellen Rometsch strategy" refers to the misuse of FBI files to blackmail members of Congress to prevent an investigation into President John Kennedy's alleged affair with East German spy Ellen Rometsch.



When questioned under oath in Judicial Watch's Filegate civil suit, Stephanopoulos refused to identify the "White House allies," citing a journalist privilege. Given the fact that this smear campaign could very well include the use of FBI and other government files, Judicial Watch will now seek permission from the court, on an emergency basis, to re-question Stephanopoulos about the identity of these "White House allies." Judicial Watch has already deposed Clinton's private investigator Terry Lenzner, who refused to answer whether anyone ever asked him to use FBI files. Evidence from Judicial Watch's Filegate discovery shows the "Ellen Rometsch strategy" has already begun:

Information from Linda Tripp's Pentagon file was leaked illegally at the orders of a Clinton political appointee, contrary to previous Clinton Administration explanations.

President Clinton consulted with operative James Carville before releasing the letter of Kathleen Willey to the press in an effort to discredit her. (Judicial Watch later uncovered that these letters were covered by the Privacy Act and should never have been released.)

The Clinton White House has compiled files, in violation of the Privacy Act, on Judge Kenneth Starr, Kathleen Willey, Linda Tripp, Monica Lewinsky, and members of Congress.

James Carville is compiling dossiers on dozens of perceived enemies of the Clinton Administration, using documents supplied by the White House.

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