The Supreme Court did not have that issue before it today, and House Republicans have indicated that the privilege claims would not be an impeachable offense.

"The unanimous view of the courts reflects the utter lack of merit of the Administration's privilege claim," the statement said.

Mr. Clinton ultimately testified after he was subpoenaed and the President's privilege claims were denied by Federal judges.

The latest maneuvering by the White House to avoid accelerated Supreme Court review of its flimsy privilege claims should not deter the justices from grabbing the case.

President Clinton's privilege claims have been open and lawful, and were reviewed and in significant measure validated by the courts.

Fifth, his Administration delayed the investigation through multiple privilege claims, each of which has been rejected by the Federal courts.

Second, these novel privilege claims were quite weak as a matter of law. . . . The fifth tactic was diversion and deflection.

James L. Shea, the firm's managing partner, said the government was exaggerating the episode and could have challenged the privilege claim during its investigation.

In dismissing the privilege claim, the appeals court recognized the public interest in protecting the President.

Legal maneuvering over the constitutional privilege claim could take months to resolve.