Ken Starr

Re “Reno, Starr at Key Hurdle in Power Play,” March 8: How long is this guy going to stay at the public trough? It would seem that $40 million later and nothing to show for it would be enough. Ken Starr has to be accountable to someone for his actions. They fished, floundered and failed and now it’s time for Starr to get a real job. Originally hired to investigate the Whitewater matter (and finding nothing), he moved into the Lewinsky thing, the Jones thing, the Willey thing, etc., etc.; again all coming to nothing with the Senate’s final vote. Of course, during the investigation, leaks from his staff to the media were intended to influence public opinion--again failure.

His actions have been highly questionable and he certainly deserves investigation as well as removal from his catbird seat. Further, Congress must modify the Independent Counsel Act to provide an accountability feature for this type of loose cannon.

TOM REINBERGER

Glendora

I was fascinated with your article, which overviewed the inquiry by the Justice Department into the issue of whether (or not) Starr abused his authority in his four-year investigation of the president.

Given the “surreal” circumstances which already surround this entire tragedy, I propose that the president accept this simple, straightforward and truly ironic proposition to close this loop and to get on with the affairs of state: Pardon Starr! To quote the commander in chief: “Those who seek forgiveness must be willing to give forgiveness.”

Even if Starr did nothing wrong, what a wonderful (and politically savvy) gesture it would be. Heck, it beats bombing Iraq in terms of grabbing headlines and diverting attention.

MICHAEL BRUCE ABELSON

Pasadena