[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[January 19, 2001]
[Pages 2954-2955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Resolution of Legal Issues
January 19, 2001

    Today I signed a consent order in the lawsuit brought by the 
Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct, which brings to an end that 
proceeding. I have accepted a 5-year suspension of my law license, 
agreed to pay a $25,000 fine to cover counsel fees, and acknowledged a 
violation of one of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct 
because of testimony in my Paula Jones case 
deposition. The disbarment suit will now be dismissed.

    I have taken every step I can to end this matter. I have already 
settled the Paula Jones case, even after it was 
dismissed as being completely without legal and factual merit. I have 
also paid court and counsel fees in restitution and been held in civil 
contempt for my deposition testimony regarding Ms. Lewinsky, which Judge Wright 
agreed had no bearing on Ms. Jones' case, even though I disagreed with 
the findings in the judge's order. I will not seek any legal fees 
incurred as a result of the Lewinsky investigation to which I might 
otherwise become entitled under the Independent Counsel Act.

    I have had occasion frequently to reflect on the Jones case. In this 
consent order, I acknowledge having knowingly violated Judge 
Wright's discovery orders in my 
deposition in that case. I tried to walk a line between acting lawfully 
and testifying falsely, but I now recognize that I did not fully 
accomplish this goal and that certain of my responses to questions about 
Ms. Lewinsky were false.

    I have apologized for my conduct, and I have done my best to atone 
for it with my family, my administration, and the American people. I 
have paid a high price for it, which I accept because it caused so much 
pain to so many

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people. I hope my actions today will help bring closure and finality to 
these matters.

Note: The statement referred to former White House intern Monica 
Lewinsky and U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright.