Ken Starr, investigator in Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair, dies at 76

Ken Starr, the independent counsel whose investigation led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton, former US president, has died.

In a statement on Tuesday, Starr’s family said he died of complications from surgery at a hospital in Texas.

He died at 76 years.

“We are deeply saddened with the loss of our dear and loving father and grandfather, whom we admired for his prodigious work ethic, but who always put his family first. The love, energy, endearing sense of humor, and fun-loving interest dad exhibited to each of us was truly special, and we cherish the many wonderful memories we were able to experience with him,” Randall, Starr’s son, said in the statement.

Starr, former judge and US solicitor-general, came to national prominence when his Whitewater investigation into Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, former White House intern, caused the impeachment of the president.

The investigation resulted in a book-length official report for the US Congress that, when sold as “The Starr Report”, became a bestseller.

Although he expressed regret for “the pain that resulted to so many, including to the nation”, he maintained that it needed to be done and that no one, not even the US president, was above the law.

In 1989, Starr became solicitor-general, the US government’s chief litigator and argued 25 cases, including controversial lawsuits on abortion rights and school prayer on the job.

He also served as president and chancellor of Baylor University from 2010 to 2016.

More recently he served on the team defending former President Donald Trump against impeachment in 2020.

Starr is survived by his wife and three children.