They might even leak untrue negative information so they they can then refute it, which would cause the press to back off some more. Not for this White House. Anyone who opposes the independent counsel ought to be of two minds about the morality of leaks. The main problem with leaks in normal prosecutions, after all, is that suspects should not be tried in the court of public opinion. But that is exactly the proper venue for the trial of the president and his men.
Leaks are then a poor man's substitute for political accountability.
The other problem is that such leaks could distort the truth. Whether that has happened we cannot know. We can know that this White House is not interested in getting the undistorted truth out. Anyone who doubts the cynicism of the White House's attack on Starr for leaks should remember that Clinton has the authority to fire Starr at any time for alleged misconduct. Now that the Clintonites are pushing for an investigation of Starr's investigation of them, perhaps Starr should investigate them for investigating him.