Starr Says Inquiries Were ‘Horrible’ Hit on Arkansas

WASHINGTON —  Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr said Sunday that the decision by a Little Rock, Ark., jury to acquit former Clinton business associate Susan McDougal may be linked to the “horrible” effects his investigations of President Clinton and the first lady have had on the state.

“This was a Little Rock trial,” Starr said on ABC’s “This Week.” “This is difficult for the state of Arkansas. A sitting governor has been convicted and resigned. The president’s business partners, the first lady’s clients have been convicted.”

Starr said his office has asked the Arkansas court for permission to interview the jurors in the McDougal case and would not make a decision on a retrial on two remaining counts until after that is done.

Some jurors said they thought Starr’s prosecutors were arrogant, and that they acquitted McDougal on an obstruction of justice charge partly on that basis.

“I would take that with a grain of salt,” Starr said, noting that the comments were made only by a few jurors. “But I will say this,” he said, “this has been horrible for Arkansas.”

Starr’s investigations into Clinton’s Whitewater land dealings have led to former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker pleading guilty to fraud, convictions against McDougal and her late husband, James McDougal, and friend Webster Hubbell, and charges against other Arkansas bankers and businessmen.

Susan McDougal was acquitted last week of the obstruction of justice charge stemming from her refusal to talk to Starr about her dealings with Clinton. The jury deadlocked on two criminal contempt charges.

Starr also repeated his statements he made at a Senate hearing last week that he believes the independent counsel law is flawed and should not be renewed when it expires June 30.

He said that rather than have an independent counsel’s office, the attorney general should appoint and be accountable for special prosecutors.

“The point is, there is no mechanism to judicially check the attorney general’s exercise of her authority under this statute. It is a false hope,” Starr said.

Starr would not comment on whether he might indict Clinton. “There are very serious issues with respect to a sitting president,” he said.