Kenneth Starr

So independent counsel Kenneth Starr’s briefings of the press are “unfair” but not “illegal” (news analysis, June 15)? Am I wrong in believing that our justice system owes its robust character to its roots in the ideas of decency and fair play that evolved from common law? Is there any question that Rule 6-E was clearly written to constrain the kind of arrogant disregard for the spirit of our law that is the hallmark of the interminable Starr investigation? Am I alone in feeling that the very length of Starr’s investigation offends the basic spirit of our justice system?

It is time for our attorney general, or the courts empowered to act, to say “enough.”

DON BROWN

West Hills

* Robert Scheer (Column Left, June 16) pronounces Starr and his staff to be “in clear violation of the interpretation of 6-E” by the D.C. federal district court, without citing any specific 6-E material purportedly leaked to the press by Starr’s office. That’s predictable. A columnist does not need to support his opinions with “facts.”

Scheer asks, “. . . how can reporters take the position that they are duty-bound to protect the confidence of their source, who in this case is the independent counsel?” The same way Scheer feels it is his duty to protect White House sources who leak information to him. Or is that “background”?

TERRENCE BEASOR

Santa Monica

* It’s now obvious that many of the media people in Washington were being bribed by Starr with insider information if they bashed Clinton. For Starr to now claim that briefings to reporters to simply clarify some points are legal and allowable is laughable. Such a briefing would be Starr openly giving his side to a roomful of reporters, with cameras rolling. Not to favored individuals, secretly, in return for positive PR. (Secret grand jury material is to be secret in any case.)

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno should now take Starr’s notes and reveal which reporters were favored, to receive secret information for a quid pro quo, so that we can judge a reporter’s performance by his payoff.

J.S. GREENBERG

Newport Beach

* Too bad the media give Clinton and his spin team free passes on stonewalling his lies and deceptions, while crucifying Starr and his associates for providing a truthful background on their investigation.

ROY A. BERRY

Palm Springs