Judge May Open Jones Lawsuit Files

A federal judge said Tuesday that she may release President Clinton’s deposition and other files in Paula Corbin Jones’ sexual harassment lawsuit against him and is considering finding Clinton in contempt of court.

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright said she will release the files unless either side appeals by Sept. 15. Clinton has opposed the release, and it was virtually certain that his lawyers would appeal.

Wright said she has not decided whether to charge Clinton with contempt for not detailing his relationship with former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky in his January deposition in the Jones case.

Clinton repeatedly told Jones’ lawyers in the January deposition that he did not have a sexual relationship with Lewinsky and that he did not recall ever being alone with her.

But he changed his story after being called before a grand jury investigating the Lewinsky affair last month.