January 21, 1999 -- New York -- Last night, two confidential sources told American Politics Journal that a Fox television crew has positioned themselves near the home of Juanita Broaddrick, the so-called "Jane Doe No. 5" mentioned in evidence presented to the House Judiciary Committee late last year by Kenneth Starr and the Office of Independent Counsel.

According to a follow-up from these sources, the crew is in fact a freelance team from Fox, hired to get footage of Broaddrick within 48 hours -- and may have badly bollixed the story, tipping off other news organizations and possibly even Broaddrick in the process.

One of the freelancers working for Fox reportedly told a bystander that Ms. Broaddrick is to be subpoenaed with the goal of having her claim that Clinton forced himself on her and gave her money in exchange for her silence -- with which she bought her first nursing home.

Additionally, the crew has been trying to track down photographs for a story which Fox News is developing. The crew has also been asking questions concerning Broaddrick's possible membership in local country or fitness clubs. They also contacted a local photojournalist who they were led to believe might have photographs of Broaddrick, who accompanied the freelancers for Fox on a stakeout of Broaddrick's home, and has reportedly been paid for her assistance in the matter.

The freelancers also appear to have made a serious misstep -- in their zeal to obtain photographs of Broaddrick, they contacted local affiliates of other TV networks, not only tipping them off to the impending story, but possibly giving a heads-up to Broaddrick's friends and family and Broaddrick herself.

American Politics Journal called Fox News in Washington this morning and spoke to Lillian LeCroy, who confirmed that Fox News is looking for a photograph of Juanita Broaddrick and was working up a story concerning the impending subpoena of Broaddrick.

Which raises the question: how exactly is it that Fox News was tipped off to this story? It can be reasoned that the only party with an interest in subpoenaing Broaddrick would be Kenneth Starr's Office of Independent Counsel as part of their ongoing investigation of then-Governor Clinton -- and one is left asking whether this is one last-ditch attempt to get Clinton based on half-baked rumors passed along by Clinton haters -- let alone a violation of law.

The timing of this subpoena, in the middle of Clinton's impeachment trial, smells like an attempt to tamper with the trial.

APJ also finds it interesting that Fox news somehow got this heads-up, given the heat now being generated by Judge Norma Holloway Johnson's assignment of a special master to investigate allegations of a pattern and practice of felony leaks emanating from Starr's office. Fox News, owned by Clinton arch-enemy Rupert Murdoch and run by ultraconservatives Roger Ailes and Brit Hume, has made no secret in their "fair and balanced" coverage that they are gunning for Clinton's hide.

We also believe that this latest Fox escapade in "breaking" news which seems to emanate from Starr screams for investigation by the Justice Department.

-- David J. Gonzo