![]() For Clinton, even though the case was dismissed by a federal judge, the Jones suit will forever mar his chapter in the history books, cementing an image as a leader whose reckless personal life endangered an otherwise remarkable political career. ![]() Although lawyers involved believe Jones will get a decent share of the settlement, it remains to be determined how much.Įven as both sides celebrated yesterday, they were cognizant of the enormous toll the lawsuit has taken on everyone involved. The Jones camp, which has struggled with bitter internal divisions in recent weeks, has yet to determine how it will divide the money among the many lawyers who have staked a claim on it. "When all is said and done, not a penny will come out of his pocket," said one person close to the situation. Sources said the president's lawyers have reached a tentative agreement with Chubb Group Insurance to buy out the personal liability policy that had covered some of his legal expenses for close to half of the settlement. The document signed late yesterday afternoon made no mention of how Clinton would pay for the settlement, but sources said it likely would come from both his legal defense fund and a separate deal with one of his insurance companies. The extraordinary case came to an extraordinary finale, with the defendant agreeing to pay $850,000 even though the plaintiff originally only asked for $700,000 when she filed suit - and even though the case was dismissed without a trial. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, which financed her lawsuit, called the deal "justice for Paula" and said it would draw attention to "the importance of protecting powerless women from workplace harassment and the role of the rule of law in our highest offices." This has nothing to do with an ax to grind with Bill Clinton." This is Paula's reputation that we were fighting for. "Paying a substantial amount of money makes a statement on its own. Jones made no public comment, but her husband, Steve, told reporters outside their California condominium that the payment amounts to an apology on its own. Willey, who also accused Clinton of an unwelcome sexual advance. Just hours before the settlement was inked yesterday, Starr sent new evidence to the House Judiciary Committee stemming from a witness in the Jones case, Kathleen E. Starr's allegations that he lied and obstructed justice during the case, while providing a new opportunity for the White House to cut a separate deal with Congress to drop impeachment proceedings. It also may help the president's allies defend him against independent counsel Kenneth W. The settlement foreclosed the possibility that Clinton's personal life would be reopened for public inspection at a sensational trial had the lawsuit dismissed in April been reinstated, as many lawyers involved believed it would be. "It is clear that the American people want their president and Congress to focus on the problems that they were elected to solve. "The president has decided he is not prepared to spend one more hour on this matter," Bennett said. Bennett, Clinton's chief attorney in the case, said the president still insists Jones's allegations of a crude proposition in a Little Rock hotel suite seven years ago "are baseless" but agreed to make the payment in the interest of finally putting the matter behind him. The agreement, which will be filed with a federal appeals court considering whether the lawsuit should go forward, requires the president to pay within 60 days. President Clinton reached an out-of-court settlement with Paula Jones yesterday, agreeing to pay her $850,000 to drop the sexual harassment lawsuit that led to the worst political crisis of his career and only the third presidential impeachment inquiry in American history.Īfter more than 4 1/2 years of scorched-earth legal warfare, Clinton and Jones brought a sudden end to the case with a four-page deal in which he acknowledged no wrongdoing and offered no apology. ![]() Clinton Special ReportĬlinton Settles Paula Jones Lawsuit for $850,000
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