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Linda Tripp suing Pentagon over leaks designed to 'sabotage' career

Linda Tripp

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lawyers for former White House aide Linda Tripp Thursday announced the filing of a suit claiming damages against the Defense Department over "shameful leaks" about her job hunt designed to "humiliate and embarrass her."

Tripp, whose disclosures about the Monica Lewinsky affair helped lead to the impeachment of former President Clinton, was dismissed from her Pentagon-related job as the Clinton administration came to an end.

A law office representing Tripp told CNN the lawsuit, to be filed at U.S. District Court in Washington, accuses the Pentagon of violating the Privacy Act by releasing information to the news media about Tripp's search for a job.

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It said the leak was "clearly designed to sabotage Linda Tripp's attempt to gain re-employment" and "robs her of professional dignity."

The law firm said Tripp was terminated while on approved leave and traveling to Germany, where she was applying for a government position with the George Marshall Center, a multinational think tank that discusses security and other issues.

The lawyers charged that "unidentified" Pentagon officials leaked news of her interview with the center to the Jan. 23 European edition of the Stars and Stripes newspaper that disclosed, among other things, that she was willing to accept a lower position at a cut in pay from the nearly $100,000 she received at the Pentagon.

"These leaks are shameful," the lawyers said. "They are designed to humiliate and embarrass Mrs. Tripp. They re designed to render her jobless and bankrupt.

"Anything that could be said to injure Mrs. Tripp's reputation was unleashed once it became evident that her testimony could bring down a president. The DOD continues to act as if it is 'open season' on Linda Tripp's right to privacy."

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