Willey Makes Appearance Before Federal Grand Jury

Prosecutors on Tuesday sought again to test the truthfulness of recent sworn testimony from President Clinton, questioning before a federal grand jury another woman whose path has crossed his.

The witness, former White House volunteer Kathleen E. Willey, made no public comments regarding her testimony. In an apparent signal that she is not hostile to the investigation, Willey arrived at and departed the courthouse in the company of the staff of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr.

Willey is one of six women--including former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky--about whom Clinton was questioned on Jan. 17 by lawyers for Paula Corbin Jones, the former Arkansas government employee who is suing Clinton for sexual harassment.

Eight weeks ago, Starr’s office began investigating whether Clinton had encouraged the 24-year-old Lewinsky directly or indirectly to lie under oath to Jones’ lawyers about the nature of her relationship with the president.

Starr’s investigation encompasses the efforts made by Clinton’s trusted advisor, Vernon E. Jordan Jr., to line up a job offer for Lewinsky as her testimony was being sought by Jones’ lawyers.

Starr also has been investigating how Lewinsky came to deliver a list of so-called “talking points” to a friend and co-worker, Linda Tripp, concerning how Tripp might recount under oath an incident in 1993 involving Clinton and Willey.

Tripp has said she saw Willey, her makeup smeared and clothing somewhat disheveled, following a private encounter with Clinton in the area of the Oval Office.

From Willey, the prosecutors want help answering at least two questions:

Was Clinton telling the truth when he testified that he did nothing more than kiss her on the forehead and, perhaps, embrace her on Nov. 29, 1993?

And, what information was conveyed to Willey during several contacts she had over the last few months with Maryland developer Nathan Landow, a wealthy backer of the president?

Landow has said recently that his contacts with Willey were motivated by compassion and in no way improper. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. Landow’s lawyer, Herbert J. Miller Jr., declined to discuss his client’s dealings with Clinton.

At the time of her disputed encounter with Clinton in November 1993, Willey was seeking a paid job because her family had severe financial problems. Unknown to Willey, her husband that same day committed suicide in their hometown of Richmond, Va.

She ultimately did get a paid job in the White House counsel’s office that lasted about 10 months. Later, Willey accepted a nonpaying position with the administration and traveled to conferences in Denmark and Indonesia.

On Tuesday, Willey was accompanied as she arrived at the courthouse by FBI Special Agent Ed Roach, who is assigned to Starr’s staff. She smiled at one point but otherwise declined to respond to reporters’ questions.

In addition to the FBI agent, Willey was accompanied as she left the courthouse by two prosecutors who escorted her before the grand jury, Solomon L. Wisenberg and David Barger.

Willey did not leave the grand jury room area, on the third floor of the courthouse, throughout the day. About 1 p.m., a man brought Willey lunch from the building cafeteria.

In a related development, officials at the White House said they expect that the president’s personal secretary, Betty Currie, will be brought back before the grand jury today.

Currie is regarded as a crucial witness because of her firsthand knowledge of Lewinsky’s frequent visits to the White House, the help extended Lewinsky by Jordan and the former intern’s exchange of various gifts with the president.