This is in response to “Of impeachment hearings and ‘chairs'” in the Feb. 15 edition of your publication.

Some factual corrections need to be made. Sara Ziegler wrote: “The Independent Counsel Act should be abolished. That’s right, Ken Starr. The Clinton/Lewinsky debacle would have never surfaced if it hadn’t been for you greatly overstepping the bounds of your authority.”

Ken Starr was, by the nature of the statute, unable to overstep the bounds of his authority.

When the whole Lewinsky aspect became known to him, he went to Janet Reno.

He informed her of the information he had and asked what should be done.

Should he investigate it?

Or should another independent investigator? Or the Dept. of Justice?

Reno told him to do it.

He is required to investigate whatever he’s told to investigate. Once again, the smearing of Starr continues.

Ziegler later stated: “With Hyde and his cronies pushing through an impeachment verdict that was in no way proven, the House made a name for itself that it might not live down for a while.”

The House never pushed any verdict. Their job was, in effect, to decide if there was enough evidence to warrant a trial.

They determined that there was.

It was not their job to determine guilt or innocence, merely to determine whether or not a trial was needed.

No verdict was ever rendered by the House.

Todd Holloway

Bowling Green, Ky.