Investigation of Starr’s Office Reported

Federal prosecutors have told independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr they intend to investigate his office’s initial contact last year with Monica S. Lewinsky, Newsweek magazine reported Sunday.

An unidentified Justice Department source was quoted by the magazine as saying prosecutors had told Starr they want to determine if his staff offered Lewinsky an immunity agreement on condition that she not speak to her attorney.

Newsweek also reported that Starr had asked the FBI to help determine who told the New York Times in January that he had decided he could indict President Clinton while the chief executive is still in office.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Sunday about the reports.

Starr has denied any wrongdoing in his staff’s dealings with Lewinsky, a former White House intern whose affair with Clinton helped trigger an investigation that led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against the president.