Clinton Aides’ Papers Sought in Whitewater Case

Trying to find out whether documents were removed from Vincent Foster’s office the day after his 1993 suicide, Whitewater prosecutors are demanding that some White House aides turn over records of conversations they had the week following his death.

The White House counsel’s office issued a memo earlier this week saying the prosecutors want calendars, message logs and records of any discussions for July 20, 1993--the day of Foster’s death--and for the seven days following, according to those familiar with the investigation.

White House aide John Podesta confirmed Friday that prosecutors had requested additional documents as “part of the wrap-up” of an inquiry into the handling of material from Foster’s office.

Podesta declined to provide details, but sources said prosecutors are examining if White House aide Craig Livingstone removed a box of Foster’s papers from the second floor of the West Wing on the morning of July 21, 1993. Foster’s office was on the second floor.

One source said the prosecutors’ request for records of conversations was made of “a limited number of White House aides.” The source declined to name them.

“Some of the people who were around Vince’s office, that’s who’s getting asked,” said another source.

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The sources, who are outside the Whitewater prosecutor’s office, spoke on condition of anonymity.

The prosecutors are pursuing information from a uniformed Secret Service officer and a U.S. Park Police detective that Livingstone removed the box of papers.

Questioned before a federal grand jury Wednesday by Whitewater prosecutors was Betsy Pond, a former secretary in the White House counsel’s office where Foster worked.

Pond maintains she did not see anyone remove a box or boxes of papers from Foster’s office the morning after his death, the sources said.

Through his lawyer, Livingstone last week denied carrying a box of papers from the White House the morning after Foster died. However, a park police detective, Pete Markland, has said Livingstone acknowledged carrying a box of papers that morning.

Whitewater prosecutors have been investigating the matter for the past year, but have been unable to find any such box of papers or determine what may have been in it, the sources added.