Starr's tenure to end, assistant tapped as replacement

With his five-year, $47 million investigation<br>of the Clintons winding down, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr will formally step aside next week and be replaced by one of his<br>assistants, Robert Ray,

Thursday, October 14th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

With his five-year, $47 million investigation
of the Clintons winding down, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr will formally step aside next week and be replaced by one of his
assistants, Robert Ray, sources familiar with Starr's plans said Thursday night.

Ray, a federal prosecutor who joined Starr's office early this year, was selected by a panel of three federal appeals court judges to succeed the controversial special prosecutor, the sources told The Associated Press.

The judges, who interviewed several of Starr's deputies, have not issued a formal order yet, but they told the prosecutor's office of their plans this week, the sources said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.

That cleared the way for Starr, who has hinted for months of his desire to step down, to return to his private law practice.