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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release October 18, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The Independent Counsel's report on the travel office matter, released today, confirms what we have long said: there were financial improprieties in the travel office, the firings were lawful, and the decision to remove the travel office employees was made by White House staff, not the First Lady. The suggestion that Mrs. Clinton somehow testified falsely is belied by the text of the report itself. The report recognizes that Mrs. Clinton was rightfully concerned about the financial improprieties in the travel office, and it begrudgingly acknowledges that she did not intend to influence the firing decision.

This matter has been investigated for nearly seven and a half years by Congress and various prosecutors. This report should close the matter once and for all.

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