Starr Finishing Clinton Probe

Independent counsel Kenneth Starr said Monday he is moving rapidly to conclude his investigation of President Clinton and the first lady and plans to finish before Hillary Rodham Clinton would stand for Senate in the 2000 election.

Speaking to reporters after addressing a lawyers' group in Atlanta, Starr would not speculate about possible prosecutions of either of the Clintons. Nor would he give a possible date for the final report on his five-year investigation.

When asked whether he plans to finish before the 2000 election, in which Mrs. Clinton is eyeing a Senate bid in New York, Starr said, "The answer is yes."

"We are trying to move forward very, very rapidly in that respect, and we are doing so," he said. "I would anticipate that the final report will come at the earliest practicable moment."

Starr said his final report will cover all aspects of his investigation including the Clintons' Whitewater real estate dealings and the president's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Mr. Clinton was impeached by the House last December in connection with the Lewinsky case, but acquitted by the Senate.

"It would need to be a comprehensive final report that is factually straight forward, that does not engage in characterization," he said. "It's clear that the Congress did not want a final report to be an avenue for alleging that one or more individuals had engaged in criminal conduct."

Earlier Monday, Starr praised an Arkansas judge's decision declaring that Mr. Clinton gave false testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

"I thought it was very strong language," Starr said of the decision last month by U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright.

Starr has been investigating Mr. Clinton and his wife, Hillary, for over five years, and is thought to be winding down the probe.

The Clinton White House has said the president will pay the $90,000 fine levied by Judge Wright. The judge said in the July 29 ruling she hoped that it might deter others "who might consider emulating the president's misconduct."

The money, which is in addition to $850,000 awarded Jones in a settlement of her sexual harassment case, was aimed at covering legal costs related the president's denial that he had a sexual relationship with Lewinsky.

Written By Russ Bynum