Next, CNN allowed John King to present the White House view though King also uniquely pointed out that he had learned that Starr's office had assured the Justice Department it had no intention of asking Secret Service agents about Clinton's conversations with his lawyer. David Shuster ran down the key Secret Service developments and cited Silberman's criticism of both the administration and Reno. But, Myers noted that all of the Secret Service officers subpoenaed say they never saw Lewinsky in a sexual situation with Clinton. Up next, Pete Williams explained how the Supreme Court handles emergencies, a situation which normally arises in death penalty cases. During the event, Clinton was talking to an attractive woman across the roped-off buffer area.
Photographers work in that area, between the dais and the main ballroom.
Downing was wearing one of those lapel pins the Secret Service hands out to give freer access. Clinton pointed at Downing and asked him to get a business card from the woman. The President seemed to assume that Downing worked for him because of the pin and because Downing looked familiar from covering the White House for Newsweek. A look of anger crossed Clinton's face. Shriver proved again Thursday morning that she is much more a liberal advocate than any kind of journalist.