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A federal judge has taken a direct role in arrangements for Monica Lewinsky's grand jury appearance while presidential friend Vernon Jordan, in an important prelude to her testimony, says there was no improper motive when he began a job search on her behalf. While Jordan finished a second day of testimony Thursday on the third floor of the federal courthouse, U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson held a closed hearing one floor below - almost certainly involving arrangements for Ms. Lewinsky. It is not known when Ms. Lewinsky will testify, but before she does, the circumstances of her appearance must be made clear. Her attorney, William Ginsburg, has been trying to enforce an immunity deal that Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr says was never sealed. The judge had Starr, Ginsburg and their associates in her courtroom to argue the immunity issue - raising the possibility that she will decide the matter or force the two sides to reach agreement. The normally talkative Ginsburg would not comment to reporters after he left Johnson's hearing, except to say, "I follow court rules. That's not unlike me at all." Prosecutors said nothing. Jordan's testimony and Johnson's hearing came on an extraordinary day. Thursday on the third floor of the federal courthouse, U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson held a closed hearing one floor below - almost certainly involving arrangements for Ms. Lewinsky. It is not known when Ms. Lewinsky will testify, but before she does, the circumstances of her appearance must be made clear. Her attorney, William Ginsburg, has been trying to enforce an immunity deal that Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr says was never sealed. The judge had Starr, Ginsburg and their associates in her courtroom to argue the immunity issue - raising the possibility that she will decide the matter or force the two sides to reach agreement.
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