LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The deposition behind an impeachment inquiry against President Clinton will be in the batch of evidence that a federal judge will begin releasing in less than two weeks as she relaxes her gag order in the Paula Jones case.
U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright said Thursday that she will begin releasing evidence from Mrs. Jones’ sexual harassment lawsuit on the court’s Internet site Oct. 19.
In the file is Clinton’s Jan. 17 deposition that is central to an impeachment inquiry approved in the House Thursday. Clinton allegedly lied in the deposition; he has said his answers were technically correct.
While Wright intends to release a transcript of Clinton’s testimony, a videotape of his appearance will remain under seal. The judge said, however, that members of Congress can do whatever they will with a copy of the tape she gave the House Judiciary Committee last month.
Wright imposed a gag order last October, saying she was worried that volumes of information being released might taint a potential jury. After leaked information indicated Clinton might have lied in his deposition, media groups, including The Associated Press, sued to get access.
The judge ruled against the media, but after tossing out Mrs. Jones’ lawsuit April 1, agreed to reconsider the decision as suggested by a panel of the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.