Voices

“At first he thought it was an April Fool’s joke. The president is pleased to receive the vindication he has been waiting a long time for.”

--Spokesman Mike McCurry

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“I think it is clearly the right decision and Judge Wright should be complimented on her courage to make the right decision notwithstanding all of the political atmosphere surrounding the case.”

--Robert Bennett, Clinton’s lead attorney

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“We will appeal this decision to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals immediately.”

--Statement by the Rutherford Institute, which has financed Jones’ lawsuit

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“Obviously we are shocked. The term disappointment has a new meaning in my life.”

--Susan Carpenter-McMillan, a spokeswoman for Jones.

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“This ruling will confirm what many Americans were already thinking: that these charges involved prying into Clinton’s private life where there was no cause to look.”

--Karlyn Bowman, an expert on public opinion at the conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington

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“It’s been a long four years, and I’m glad to get it behind me . . . I’m tickled to death.”

--Danny Ferguson, Arkansas state trooper named as a co-defendant in suit

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“Judge Wright’s ruling today has no effect on our authority, and we will continue working to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible.”

--Whitewater Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.

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“I assume that since this appears to be good news for Clinton, his poll numbers will go down.”

--Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.