In written answers made public Monday in the Paula Jones lawsuit, President Clinton testified that he had not had "sexual relations" with any women who worked for the federal government or the state of Arkansas since 1986, a time frame set by the judge.
Clinton's one-word answer to that question - "none" - was included in hundreds of pages of previously secret documents released on the Internet by U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright, who oversaw the case and dismissed Jones' lawsuit.The release comes as a settlement remains elusive and lawyers on both sides prepare to make arguments Tuesday before a federal appeals court in St. Paul, Minn., that is considering whether to reinstate Jones' lawsuit accusing the president of sexual harassment.
Clinton's legal team on Sunday rejected an offer from Jones to settle the case for $2 million - $1 million each from Clinton and New York real estate developer Abe Hirschfeld, who volunteered his own money - sources close to the case said Monday.
The documents mostly detail the behind-the-scenes maneuvers by lawyers in the case.
The documents include several written answers by the president. In one set of answers in November 1997, Clinton testified he could not recall ever meeting Jones but denied her allegation that he made a crude sexual advance and exposed himself to her in May 1991.
Clinton initially refused to answer broadly worded questions about whether he ever had sex with any women other than his wife or engaged in liaisons arranged by Arkansas state troopers. His lawyers argued the questions exceeded the grounds of decency and the scope of the case, the documents show.
"President Clinton objects to this request for admission in that it is intended solely to harass, embarrass and humiliate the president and the office he occupies," his lawyers wrote.
Wright ordered Clinton in December to answer the question but narrowed it to a period of five years prior to the alleged episode involving Jones, starting in May 1986, through the present. The judge also limited the question to those women "who were state or federal employees, and those whose liaisons with Gov.Clinton were procured, protected, concealed, and/or facilitated by state troopers."
Clinton complied with the judge's order. "None," he answered to the question.
Clinton has since admitted to having an intimate relationship and sexual contacts with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern, but has said he understood the term "sexual relations" to cover only intercourse.
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Excerpts from the Paula Jones lawsuit can be found at our Web site (www.desnews.com).