Ken Starr Takes Over: A New Direction in the Investigation

The Whitewater saga, a complex web of financial investigations surrounding Bill and Hillary Clinton, took a pivotal turn with the appointment of Kenneth W. Starr as the independent counsel in 1994. This appointment marked a significant shift in the direction and intensity of the investigation, one that has since become a touchstone in the annals of American legal and political history.

Kenneth Starr, a former federal judge and U.S. Solicitor General, was tapped to replace Robert B. Fiske, Jr., the initial independent counsel, whose investigation appeared to be concluding without substantial evidence implicating the Clintons. Starr's appointment was mired in controversy, largely because of his extensive Republican ties and a perception that he would be less impartial than his predecessor. The move was seen by many as a political maneuver intended to breathe new life into a flagging inquiry.

Starr’s approach was relentless and wide-ranging, extending far beyond the original scope of the Whitewater investigation. Initially focused on the Clintons’ involvement in the failed real estate venture in Arkansas, Starr’s inquiry soon encompassed a series of tangential scandals. His tenacity led him to investigate the suicide of Deputy White House Counsel Vince Foster, the firing of White House travel office employees (Travelgate), the improper accessing of FBI files (Filegate), and, eventually, President Clinton’s extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Starr’s methodical and expansive strategy raised important questions about the boundaries of independent counsel investigations. Critics accused him of conducting a politically motivated witch hunt. They argued that the original Whitewater probe morphed into an unfocused exploration of every conceivable misstep by the Clintons, diverting from the initial allegations of financial impropriety. Proponents, however, maintained that Starr was simply following the evidence wherever it led, holding the highest office in the land accountable to the rule of law.

The culmination of Starr’s efforts was a detailed report submitted to Congress in 1998, which chronicled President Clinton’s deceptive testimony about his relationship with Lewinsky. This led to Clinton’s impeachment by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, though he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. Ken Starr's investigation had profound implications, not just for the Clintons, but for the American political and legal systems, igniting widespread debate about the ethics and efficacy of independent counsels.

In retrospect, Starr’s tenure as independent counsel remains a lightning rod for discussions about prosecutorial overreach and political accountability. His appointment undeniably altered the trajectory of the Whitewater investigation, transforming it into a sprawling probe that delved deep into the personal and political fabric of the Clinton presidency. Whether one views Starr’s legacy as one of necessary rigor or partisan excess depends largely on one’s perspective on the intricate dance of law and politics in Washington, D.C.