That misconduct, the filing said, included withholding from the grand jury important information about a gray area of tax law known as economic substance.

It would also encourage greater sharing of information - including grand jury information - among intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Yet grand jury information routinely leaked from Starr's office, usually to a select group of reporters whose stories were favorable to the independent counsel.

The Court of Appeals, however, disagreed, and found that the article did not contain any secret grand jury information.

"We don't want grand jury information," he said.

Mr. Volz said he never disclosed secret grand jury information.

Once again, words such as "believe" and "grand jury information" give Starr some possible defenses.

Mr. Kennedy was referring to the fact that it is against the law to release grand jury information.

He already faces a court fight over whether he has unlawfully leaked grand jury information to reporters.

The officials must first, however, obtain court approval to disclose grand jury information in the report.