Paula Jones Files Appeal

Paula Jones formally told a federal judge Wednesday she was appealing the decision tossing out her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton.

The appeal notice was filed with U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright, who on April 1 ruled that Jones' claims against the president fell "far short" of being worthy of a federal trial.

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Wright said that while Jones described boorish conduct, including allegations that Mr. Clinton exposed himself to Jones in a Little Rock hotel room, she could not claim sexual harassment.

The judge noted in her decision that Jones remained at her state job nearly two years after the alleged incident and that she didn't complain to her supervisors.

Jones says Mr. Clinton propositioned her May 8, 1991, when Mr. Clinton was Arkansas governor and she was a state worker attending an economic development conference. She said a trooper escorted her to Mr. Clinton's hotel room, where the alleged pass was made.

Jones' lawsuit also named the trooper, Danny Ferguson. Wright's dismissal this month also voided claims against him.

The trial had been scheduled to begin May 27.

Jones filed suit May 6, 1994, two days before the statute of limitations expired on her claims. Her allegations embarrassed the White House for years and threatened to put the president's sexual conduct on trial as Jones sought out other women who claimed to have had encounters with him.

Mr. Clinton says he doesn't recall ever meeting Jones and has firmly denied anything improper happened.

Jones, 31, who now lives in Long Beach, Calif., claimed Mr. Clinton and Ferguson conspired to violate her civil rights. Her lawsuit sought $525,000 in damages, plus additional penalties a jury would see fit to grant.

But Wright said that "even a most charitable reading of the record in this case fails to reveal a basis for a claim of criminal sexual assault," necessary to uphold Jones' claims.

Wright said that while Jones described boorish conduct including allegations that Mr. Clinton exposed himself to Jones in a Little Rock hotel room she could not claim sexual harassment.

The judge noted in her decision that Jones remained at her state job nearly two years after the alleged incident and that she didn't complain to her supervisors.

Written by James Jefferson