USA: PRESIDENT CLINTON LATEST ALLEGED SEX INCIDENT UPDATE

Описание: (17 Mar 1998) English/Nat

The White House is denying that it's out to get Kathleen Willey, the Democratic supporter who has accused U-S President Clinton of making a crude sexual advance in 1993.

A day after she told her story on national television, the President's Office released letters she wrote to him after the alleged incident.

Now the President's attorney is suggesting money is the motive behind Willey's actions.

On this Saint Patrick's Day, U-S President Bill Clinton seems to be enjoying the luck of the Irish.

New polls suggest his popularity remains high despite the latest accusations against him.

Clinton looked relaxed as he strolled through the U-S Capitol with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

But while the President appears unconcerned, his staff and advisors aren't taking Kathleen Willey's accusations lightly as they seek to undermine her credibility.

President Clinton's personal attorney suggested on Tuesday that money is the motive behind Willey's allegations.

Robert Bennett said Willey's lawyer is arranging a 300-thousand dollar book deal for her.

A Los Angeles publisher said he had been offered the book but had turned it down.

On Monday, the President's advisers also released some 20 chatty, handwritten letters Mrs Willey wrote to the President from 1993 to 1997.

In the correspondence, among other things, she asks for an ambassadorship, and praises his performance as President.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, presidential spokesman Mike McCurry sought to explain the White House's strategy in releasing the letters.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The release of these letters were intended to provide additional information in which people could understand the context of this story. The context of the story is that she wrote these types of letters in the time after the encounter she described on national television Sunday night."
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McCurry, White House Spokesman

Alternating between singing Irish songs and putting down the President, a small group of protestors stood in front of the White House on Tuesday.

They promised to drive him out, just as the snakes were driven out of Ireland.

But the latest polls suggest they are in the minority and that Clinton's approval rating remains at around 60 percent.

This despite the fact that of those polled, roughly half believed Clinton and half believed Willey.

Pollster Karlyn Bowman says the numbers are the result of a strong economy, and the fact that Americans are becoming somewhat immune to scandal.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think the public in this situation is so scandal weary. We have had a steady drip of scandal for about the last decade from one politician or another, that perhaps they are just pulling away from it generally. And that may be explain, that may be another reason for the President's high standing in the polls."
SUPER CAPTION: Karlyn Bowman, Pollster

The Washington grand jury investigating the President was back at work on Tuesday.

But the panel won't be hearing from a new witness, Sherrie Densuk, as had been expected.

Her attorney says the aspiring actresses' testimony has been delayed until next week.

On Tuesday, Densuk's Attorney Keith Watters said the former White House intern had no physical contact with the President, but that she has significant second-hand information.

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SUPER CAPTION: Keith Watters, Densuk's Attorney

Despite the allegations that have surfaced, for his part Clinton seems to be almost scandal proof.


SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Karlyn Bowman, Pollster

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