Paula Jones Questioned by Clinton Lawyers in Sexual-Harassment Suit

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. —  President Clinton’s lawyers questioned Paula Corbin Jones under oath for the first time Wednesday in her sexual-harassment lawsuit.

For nearly eight hours, Jones gave her deposition behind closed doors at a law office just blocks from where she says Clinton propositioned her in 1991, when he was governor and she a state employee. He denies the allegation.

Jones and her lawyers avoided reporters as they arrived for her deposition and when they left at the end of the day. She was expected to return for more questioning today.

A federal judge has imposed a gag order, prohibiting all parties and their lawyers from discussing pretrial issues.

Lawyers have been taking depositions for several weeks in preparation for the May 27 trial. They plan to question several more people, including Gennifer Flowers, who claims to have had a 12-year relationship with Clinton. Clinton also has denied that.

In the depositions, lawyers have wide latitude to explore areas that a judge may later declare inadmissible.

After a lawyer for Clinton co-defendant and former bodyguard Danny Ferguson began asking questions about Jones’ reputation, Jones asked a federal judge two weeks ago for permission to drop a defamation count against Ferguson, in effect, putting her past off limits. The judge has not ruled yet on her request.