Speaker Eyes Big Picture in Starr Probe

House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Sunday that the House likely will seek evidence from all of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr’s investigations--not just the results of the inquiry into President Clinton’s relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky--before determining whether to launch an impeachment inquiry.

In his most extensive comments about the investigation since Clinton’s Aug. 17 speech to the nation, Gingrich said in an interview here that he believes only “a pattern of felonies” and not “a single human mistake” could constitute grounds for an impeachment inquiry.

“I don’t think the Congress could move forward only on Lewinsky, unless he [Starr] had such a clear case, such an overpowering case,” Gingrich said. “But I think we would be better served to know the whole story.”

He added that the House Judiciary Committee would have “every right” to ask Starr for his findings on Whitewater and other investigations if the report to Congress is limited to the Lewinsky investigation, as has been reported.

“All the independent counsel does is start the process. He doesn’t define it,” Gingrich said.

The speaker, who is on a campaign swing for Republican House candidates in Western states, held out little prospect that the question of whether to launch an impeachment inquiry against the president could be determined before the November elections.

Starr’s report is expected to arrive on Capitol Hill sometime next month. Gingrich said the Judiciary Committee, under the chairmanship of Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) must carefully review Starr’s findings out of public view before reaching any conclusion about a recommendation for a formal impeachment proceeding.

Gingrich said the House should move cautiously as it makes any decision about an impeachment inquiry because of the turmoil it could cause the nation.

“There’s a high value to stability in our system,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of changing who the president is capriciously. It’s very hard to pick a president. It’s very expensive. It takes an enormous amount of the nation’s energy, and once the nation has made that choice, whomever that choice is, there should be an overwhelming presumption that they serve out their term.”