Reprinted from The Washington Times , 5am -- April 27, 1998
Tripp's defense fund has Web site, will post a letter there
By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Linda Tripp, who has remained silent on the White House sex-and-lies scandal for three months, is considering posting a personal letter of thanks on the Internet to supporters, The Washington Times has learned.
"Linda has been receiving literally thousands of letters since the story has broken, letters of support, letters offering encouragement for her and her actions -- and many of those letters have been accompanied by donations," said her brother-in-law, Christopher Caposella, a trustee of the Linda R. Tripp Defense Fund.
It was Mrs. Tripp's taped conversations with her friend Monica Lewinsky detailing Miss Lewinsky's purported affair with President Clinton and subsequent efforts to conceal it that ignited the sex-and-lies scandal.
An electronic letter of response "is a way that Linda can share some of her thoughts and feelings with her supporters and those who stay in touch with the Web site," Mr. Caposella told the Times yesterday in his first interview.
Mr. Caposella was referring to "www.lindatripp.com" -- a Web site designed to provide information about Mrs. Tripp and to solicit donations for her defense fund, established last week.
Other key figures in the scandal, including Mr. Clinton, Miss Lewinsky and Paula Jones, have set up funds to pay their legal bills. Mrs. Tripp held off because she was receiving pro bono advice from Baltimore lawyer Anthony J. Zaccagnini.
But frequent interviews at independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's office and a crush of media interest have necessitated a paid legal defense team and a media coordinator.
"Obviously, the independent counsel's investigation has been going on for some time and, by his own public statement, he has said there is no end in sight," Mr. Caposella said. "The longer the ... investigation continues, the longer Linda will require legal representation equal to that of the others involved in the proceedings.
"Linda cannot afford to pay her attorney as time drags on and her attorney should not have to represent her pro bono," he said. "Linda is an $88,000-per-year civil servant with two kids in college and a mortgage. She is a single mother, not a celebrity."
Mr. Caposella is married to Mrs. Tripp's sister, Michelle, and has known Mrs. Tripp for 10 years. He said the extended family has rallied behind her because much of the public criticism directed toward his sister-in-law "has been completely unfair."
"We feel it is important to open a window, to let people see that Linda is a person, a mom, someone who has earned her way -- not an object or media creation," Mr. Caposella said. "When people get to know Linda they will come to see she's got class, intelligence and dignity."
Mr. Caposella said his sister-in-law's dignity is best illustrated by the fact that she has withdrawn from public view.
"Linda has always been a reserved, private person," he said. "While others preened in front of the cameras, Linda went home, quietly closed the blinds and locked the door."
Mr. Caposella said the biggest misperception about Mrs. Tripp is the notion that she manufactured the scandal or manipulated the principal participants.
Both Miss Lewinsky and onetime White House volunteer Kathleen E. Willey discussed their encounters with Mr. Clinton with Mrs. Tripp, but Miss Lewinsky reportedly urged Mrs. Tripp to deny under oath knowledge of the situation. After being publicly branded a liar by Mr. Clinton's attorney for speaking out about Mrs. Willey, Mrs. Tripp secretly tape-recorded Miss Lewinsky's conversations and turned them over to Mr. Starr.
"Linda has found herself caught in what is basically an impossible and very frightening situation involving both wealthy and powerful people," Mr. Caposella said. "Linda is a witness -- she is not a participant. As more of the truth comes out, more and more people will see that side of it."
Mrs. Tripp believes her decision to cooperate in Mr. Starr's investigation led to her demotion at the Pentagon and will probably cost her the job altogether.
"If not for the acts and behavior of others, Linda would still be at her desk at the Pentagon, doing her job to the best of her considerable abilities," Mr. Caposella said.
Despite her duress, Mrs. Tripp is holding up "extremely well," Mr. Caposella said. "Linda is a very strong person."Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
To subscribe to the Washington Times National Weekly Edition, click this icon or call 800-363-9118.
