White House dismisses Lewinsky investigation

Robert Ray took over from Kenneth Starr last year

The White House on Tuesday dismissed reports that investigators were considering indicting President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair after he leaves office.

Independent counsel Robert Ray told the Washington Post that he considered the case an "open investigation".

No person is above the law, even the president of the United States

Independent counsel Robert Ray

Possible charges which Mr Ray could bring against Mr Clinton include perjury, obstruction of justice, making false statements and committing those crimes while under oath, according to the newspaper report.

"There is a principle to be vindicated, and that principle is that no person is above the law, even the president of the United States," Mr Ray said.

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"That is what we have been charged with doing."

But White House spokesman Joe Lockhart rejected the comments saying they were similar to those made by Mr Ray earlier this year after replacing Kenneth Starr as independent counsel last October.

"I'll leave the public to decide the motives behind going out and doing interviews like this," Mr Lockhart said, adding that taxpayers also had to decide whether it was the proper use of their money.

Mr Ray said on Tuesday he intended to spend $3.5m on the investigation over the next six months, an increase on the $3.1m spent since October.

Mr Ray took over last year from Kenneth Starr, who pursued Mr Clinton over his relationship with Ms Lewinsky in a five-year, $50m investigation that began with Mr Clinton and wife Hillary's Whitewater property dealings.

A decision on whether to indict the president could be made shortly after he leaves office in January 2001.

The Office of Independent Counsel has already said it would not seek an indictment of a sitting president.