Clinton-Jones Case Deadlocked
A federal judge in Arkansas began releasing documents from Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton on the Internet, as lawyers on both sides of the case sought to end the legal struggle with a settlement.
Jones' lawyers will argue for reinstatement of the dismissed case Tuesday before the 8th Circuit Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
As the case drags on, the deadlock has begun to wear on Jone's legal team. Besides the president's lawyers, Jones' own attorneys are blaming the former Arkansas government employee, her husband Stephen and their close friends and advisors Susan and Bill McMillan for the lack of a settlement.
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Facing legal costs of $2.5 million dollars, Jones now wants a $2 million settlement -- a million from Mr. Clinton and the rest from New York real estate man Abe Herschfeld, who has offered to donate one million to Jones.
The president's lawyer, Robert Bennett, has offered to settle for $700,000.
Jones lawyer John Whitehead told CBS News that while a settlement before Tuesday wasn't guaranteed, he felt a deal was imminent.
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"What we're looking at is the possibility of settling this case today or possibly tomorrow," Whitehead said Monday morning. "I think there is a good chance."
On the Internet Monday, 700 pages of previously sealed evidence was released by District Court Judge Susan Webber White. Wright presided over the Jones sexual harrassment lawsuit and dismissed it.
The documents show that:
- The president has denied under oath having sexual relations with any woman working for the federal or state government between 1986 and 1991.
- There are at least six so-called "Jane Does," other women who allegedly had sexual contact with Mr. Clinton.
- Jane Doe Number Six is Monica Lewinsky, who claimed she "had no information of any relevance whatsoever to the case."
Court papers show Lewinsky tried to avoid testifying in the Jones case, claiming, "she had no information of any relevance whatsoever in this case."
Meanwhile, it is clear what arguments both sides will use in Tusday's appeals court hearing.
The president's lawyers argue that even if Jones' allegations are true, she describes" nothing more than a crude and boorish proposition for consensual sex, that was rejected without tangible repercussions.
Jones' lawyers will argue that it is probable "that a rational jury would find Mr. Clinton's harrassment of Mrs. JonesÂ…severe."
The only thing that could stop the appeals hearing would be a last minute financial settlement, which so far, does not look promising.