Starr Inquiry Put on Hold, Sources Say
The Justice Department has put its misconduct investigation of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr on hold while waiting to see whether Starr resigns or significantly curtails his activities after the independent counsel law expires June 30, sources familiar with the deliberations said.
If Starr were no longer an active prosecutor, the Justice Department could simply forgo the inquiry into Starr’s handling of the Monica S. Lewinsky matter. Some senior department officials would welcome that outcome as a chance to avoid a potentially contentious and politicized proceeding, the sources said.
Starr is known to be weighing advice that he give up his independent counsel mandate and has openly stated his desire to return to private life, but he has not given the Justice Department any definitive signals as to his intentions, the sources said. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno has, in effect, decided to let Starr make the next move, the sources said.
The administrative procedures for a misconduct investigation cannot be applied to a prosecutor who has left government.
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