Clinton Seeks to Delay Ethics Probe Until He Leaves Office

President Clinton asked an Arkansas court panel Thursday to delay an investigation of his ethics until after he leaves office and indicated he will fight to keep his license to practice law.

David E. Kendall, the president’s personal lawyer, filed the postponement plea with the Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct, an arm of the state Supreme Court, which opened the inquiry in February. The investigation focuses on two sets of ethical complaints resulting from Clinton’s testimony under oath during the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal.

If the charges are upheld, Clinton could be disbarred, have his Arkansas license suspended or face a lesser punishment, such as a reprimand.

Kendall said his letter to the panel sought “an extension of time for the president to respond until 30 days after he leaves office.” Because the letter was filed confidentially, Kendall would not comment further.

Kendall’s use of the word “respond” suggests that the president will not voluntarily surrender his license, but rather will answer the charges and defend his right to remain on the formal roll of Arkansas attorneys. Although he is unlikely to practice law after he becomes a private citizen again, Clinton is known to feel strongly about retaining his license.

Clinton will leave office Jan. 20, so Thursday’s request, if granted, would mean he would not answer the charges until late February.

The president made a similar attempt to delay the Paula Corbin Jones sexual harassment lawsuit until after he had left office, but the U.S. Supreme Court thwarted that move. Ultimately, the Jones suit was dismissed, but the president’s sworn testimony in that case, in which he denied having a sexual relationship with Lewinsky, led to an order holding him in civil contempt of court.

Matthew J. Glavin, president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a conservative advocacy group that is pursuing one of the ethical grievances listed against the president, called the postponement plea an “outrageous request for an untenable extension.”