Judge dismisses Flowers' lawsuit

LAS VEGAS - A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit President Clinton's former paramour brought against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and two former presidential aides.

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro ruled Thursday that the claims in Gennifer Flowers' lawsuit had passed the statutes of limitations or were not legally actionable.

Hillary Clinton was added in January to the lawsuit. The suit originally named as defendants George Stephanopoulos and James Carville, alleging they libeled and slandered Flowers in statements made on CNN and in Stephanopoulos' 1999 book.

Little, Brown & Co., the publisher of Stephanopoulos' memoir, also was granted a dismissal as a defendant.

Flowers' attorney, Judicial Watch chairman and general counsel Larry Klayman, argued before the judge in July that Nevada's two-year statute of limitations should be used in considering Flowers' allegations because she moved to Las Vegas in mid-1998. But Pro disagreed in his decision, writing that Stephanopoulos' statements about Flowers were made while he was a resident of New York and should be subject to that state's one-year statute of limitations.

The judge also dismissed a conspiracy claim because of an expired statute of limitations and ruled allegations that her privacy had been invaded were vague and lacked evidence.

Flowers first gained national attention when she claimed during the 1992 presidential campaign that she had a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas. He later admitted to the affair.

Flowers moved to Las Vegas about two years ago to pursue a career in show business.