Kenneth Starr

Farewell to the Dome correspondents

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:40:39 -0400

The Legionnaires are no longer with us.

Since January, the Legion of Dome has been graced with the presence of five correspondents who helped us cover the 2008 gubernatorial primary and other political news.

They were chosen through a partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill's journalism program.

Karin Dryhurst, a recent graduate, should have earned extra credit towards a degree in constitutional law for covering Bob Orr. She proved her mettle with the governor's press office over an item on Easley not showing his colors.

Sam Wineka, a recent graduate, taught us a lot about how Bill Graham spends his millions: A 12,000-square-foot house, dresses owned by Princess Di and an office building for his consultant. Not to mention how he earned his money.

Cori Sue Morris, a recent graduate, sparred with the governor's press office over a pronoun slip that turned out to be meaningful after all. She also cornered Kenneth Starr over representing Blackwater at Campbell University.

Matt Tomsic, a rising senior, dug into Fred Smith's business ventures, learning about how he built roads, ran a steakhouse and checked his employees' immigration status. He also checked into Smith's somewhat surprising reading list.

Emily Stephenson, a rising junior, researched Beverly Perdue's extensive legislative record, and covered two Barack Obama rallies and Thomas Wright's expulsion. She also caught a candidate essentially admitting to smoking in the boys room.

If the future of journalism depends on the likes of these correspondents, we're in good hands. We wish them the best of luck in their careers. They will be sorely missed.

The other Kenneth Starr

csmorris — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:48:31 -0500

Kenneth Starr had a bit of an identity crisis Wednesday.

After talking about the nobility of the legal profession, the former special prosecutor in the Whitewater investigation was asked about his connection to movie star Wesley Snipes, who is currently on trial for tax fraud, conspiracy and willful failure to file tax returns.

"I heard something that you were offering opinions about whether or not we should have to pay taxes and whether or not Wesley Snipes is in the wrong," the student asked.

In the trial, Snipes' defense attorneys said his former financial adviser, one Kenneth I. Starr of New York, never told him that it's illegal not to pay taxes.

Trouble is, that's not the same Kenneth Starr who spoke at Campbell.

"Gosh, I must be talking in my sleep," Starr told the student. "I don't think I've commented on Mr. Snipes' case, at least to my memory."

If he did, Starr said, it would have been "imprudent."

From Whitewater to Blackwater

csmorris — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:46:07 -0500

Kenneth Starr told a roomful of future lawyers to defend immigrants.

Speaking at the law school at Campbell University yesterday, the former special prosecutor who investigated President Clinton argued that Jesus was an immigrant.

"You know our Lord was a refugee," he said. "The family fled to Egypt because of the horrible atrocities and gross violations of human rights."

In a two-hour speech peppered with references to his Christian faith, the attorney and law professor said government officials set the immigration bar too high.

After the speech, he was asked about his recent work defending the Blackwater private security firm in a case related to the death of four contractors in Fallujah in 2004.

He said he decided to take on Blackwater as a client because "they came to the firm."

Ken Starr to speak at Campbell

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:43:34 -0500

Kenneth Starr will speak to Campbell University law students.

The former special prosecutor whose investigations led to President Bill Clinton's impeachment will give a lecture to first-year students as part of the Professionalism Lecture Series.

The topic is "The Nobility of the Legal Profession."

Starr currently works as a professor at Pepperdine University's law school, where he teaches constitutional issues and civil procedures. He is a graduate of Duke University's law school.

He also works as an attorney for the Kirkland & Ellis law firm.

The lecture will be held in the Ron Maddox School of Pharmacy Building at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.