A second review of Vince Foster's death has reaffirmed the original finding that the White House deputy counsel committed suicide last summer, according to an individual familiar with the investigation.
That conclusion will be part of a report on Foster's death that Whitewater special prosecutor Robert Fiske is expected to release soon, the source said Wednesday, speaking only on condition of anonymity."They have conveyed to us that this is what they expect to put out on the suicide question," the individual said, adding the conclusion was "made on the basis of forensics evidence."
Fiske issued a carefully worded statement Wednesday, saying only that he will issue the report soon.
Fiske said the review was "thorough and complete" and has involved numerous interviews, extensive forensic analyses and laboratory work. He gave no timetable for report's release.
On another front, Fiske released Thursday the first cost estimates for his investigation, saying he had spent $1.17 million through April 21 and expected that bill to rise to $2.7 million by the end of September.
The totals include $983,000 for salaries and benefits through September and $540,000 already spent on computers and software used to sort and match land records and financial documents. Fiske's salary is $107,300.
Foster was found shot to death at a suburban Washington park on July 20, 1993. U.S. Park Police ruled the death a suicide.
But speculative news stories raising questions about that conclusion led Fiske recently to hire pathologists to re-examine the evidence as part of his sweeping inquiry into the Clintons' business dealings in Arkansas.
Among the things Foster had been working on when he died were matters associated with Whitewater, an unsuccessful Arkansas land deal in which the Clintons were co-owners with James McDougal, the owner of a failed savings and loan now under investigation.