Starr May Turn Over Parts of Clinton Probe

Kenneth W. Starr is raising the possibility he might turn over parts of his criminal investigation of the Clintons to the Justice Department when the independent counsel law expires June 30.

If the law is not renewed, an independent counsel is required to “make a determination as to whether his continuation with matters in his jurisdiction is required,” Starr said in an interview Friday with the Associated Press.

Starr said he would follow the law and consult with the Justice Department before deciding.

The prosecutor, whose investigation of almost five years has been criticized widely, said one possible approach would be to make “judgments . . . with respect to what matters the independent counsel should carry on” with “and what matters should be otherwise.”

Rejecting a suggestion he is readying an exit strategy, Starr said his office would continue to function, though he declined to say how long he plans to stay on the job.

Starr said he’s considering replacing three Washington deputies who left recently. “We may be having an announcement” shortly, he said.

At least for now, Congress seems unlikely to reauthorize the post-Watergate statute. But a clause in the law says existing counsels are to stay on the job until their investigation is complete.

Starr refused to speculate about what parts of his investigation might be turned over to the Justice Department, with which Starr said relations have become “especially difficult” in the past year.

In the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation, the department represented the Secret Service in the court battle to keep uniformed officers and agents from testifying in Starr’s investigation. Starr won the fight.

The department has advised Starr it intends to investigate his handling of the Lewinsky affair.