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 For Immediate Release
Sep 4, 1998 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172


Judicial Watch seeks to preserve Tripp Filegate testimony for trial

Threats and Clinton White House intimidation tactics could deprive Filegate victims of key testimony

Tripp Set to Confirm She Saw Republican FBI Files In White House Counsel's Office

Judicial Watch seeks to depose Linda Tripp as soon as possible in its Filegate civil suit to preserve the integrity of her testimony for use in any upcoming court proceedings. Given publicly reported threats and other illegal Clinton Administration intimidation tactics against her, Judicial Watch, on behalf of those whose FBI files were illegally obtained by the Clinton White House, would be derelict in not getting her testimony as soon as possible, to preserve it for trial. (Tripp herself told columnist and television commentator Tony Snow that she was threatened.) In addition, Judicial Watch needs to depose Tripp as soon as possible, so she can provide a "road map" for future discovery in the Filegate civil case.

"Linda Tripp told us over four months ago that she saw Republican FBI files piled to the ceiling in Clinton White House counsel's office. But, out of deference to her wishes and Starr's grand jury investigation, we waited until she completed her grand jury testimony before seeking to preserve this key information for our Filegate civil case," said Larry Klayman, Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel. Tripp's deposition in the Judicial Watch Filegate case, originally scheduled for today, was temporarily postponed by the court, so it could consider the mountain of pleadings dumped on it in recent days.

"Our clients are the victims of Filegate. Linda Tripp has testimony that potentially could save them from continuing harm. Ms. Tripp, given the threats and other intimidation, may not be in the jurisdiction (or even worse) to give this testimony in the future. The Filegate victims deserve timely justice. We must also get her deposition testimony as soon as possible so it will be admissible at trial. Her grand jury testimony is legally inadmissable in our Filegate civil suit," explained Klayman.

"All we want from Linda Tripp is her testimony and documents relevant to our suit. No more, no less," concluded Klayman.



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