As I understand it, it is against the law to record a person without knowledge and permission to make the recording. In a former position, I had to tape conversations with subordinates. It had to be done with their knowledge as evidenced by their voice stating their name, permission and dating the conversation.

Also, it is my understanding a recording made without a person’s knowledge and consent cannot be used in court or as evidence of anything.

Then, a dark, dark thought entered my mind. It is absolutely against the law for - what’s his name -- oh, yeh, Starr, to have put a tap on Lewinsky’s phone. Maybe it isn’t absolutely against the law but it would have taken a court order which would have required a judge agreeing there was cause to suspect Lewinsky of a serious crime.

I think this action would have been rather difficult for Starr to accomplish. Otherwise, Big Brother is most certainly watching.

Furthermore, had Starr even approached a judge with the proposal, it is highly likely a leak would have occurred which would have warned Lewinsky of the tap.

But, how easy would it have been for Starr to go to one of Lewinsky’s so-called friends promising money, noteriety, and assurance Lewinsky would not be subjected to any form of prosecution. The goal is just to nail Mr. Clinton?

As this was a workable hypothesis, I started researching telephone privacy. Suffice it to say for now, as far as current public knowledge is concerned, I was right in the commonly held belief that telephones can’t be tapped without cause.

Thus, if Starr had done so and acted like a ‘spook’, it would have let a cat out of the bag, a cat the government would rather have you not know about.

At any rate, answer these questions for yourself. Would a friend of yours tape 20 hours of conversations with you? As a matter of fact, would it ever even enter a friend’s mind to record telephone conversations with you? And, if so, with what purpose in mind?

Has it ever entered your mind to record your conversations with a friend? Or, instead, do you consider your conversations as privileged and private?

So, did Starr induce and hire Tripp to do his illegal spying for him?

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a question I am sure history will one day answer if truth and justice prevails.

Just an after thought but if you have friends like Tripp, you sure don't need any enemies. This is, of course, unless this is a conspiracy including Lewinsky. But, that's another story.