Zogby Poll: Nearly 70% of Americans Don't Accept Foster "Suicide" For Immediate Release February 23, 1998 Contact: Joe Farah/Western Journalism Center 916-852-6300 For Radio Interviews: Christopher Ruddy 718-229-8209 A national poll conducted last week by Zogby International for the Western Journalism Center finds that more than two-thirds of the American public have not accepted the official "suicide" ruling of Vincent Foster's death. Zogby, the polling firm which most accurately predicted the results of the 1996 Presidential elections, also finds that most Americans believe a cover-up took place of Foster's death. Foster was deputy White House counsel and personal attorney for Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton when, on July 20, 1993, his body was found in a Washington area park. Dead by an apparent gunshot wound to the head, Park Police quickly ruled suicide. Subsequent inquires by Special Counsel Robert Fiske and Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr rubber stamped those findings. But the Zogby national survey of 948 adults across the US shows that the repeated suicide rulings have not swayed public opinion. The poll indicates that 22% of the public--more than one in five Americans--believes Foster was murdered. Only 32% hold the opinion of suicide, and 46% of the public still aren't sure as to whether Foster killed himself or was murdered. "The public has not been fooled," Joseph Farah, executive director of the Western Journalism Center (WJC), said. The WJC is a non profit organization that supports investigative reporting. "Since Foster's death no adequate homicide investigation has taken place. The poll proves that the media elite and the Inside the Beltway crowd have not persuaded Americans that Foster's death was suicide and that the cover-up did not take place." Farah noted that the WJC has funded investigations into Foster's death by investigative reporter Christopher Ruddy. "Ruddy's new book ‘The Strange Death of Vincent Foster: An Investigation' (FREE PRESS) has made a persuasive case that the facts and evidence show a cover-up took place of Foster's death," Farah said. Polling supports that contention, Farah said. The Zogby poll found that by a margin of two-to-one Americans believe a cover-up took place of Foster's death. An astounding 77% of Americans would not disagree that one had taken place. "One reason no one believes Starr's conclusion of suicide is that the investigations have been so ridiculous," Farah said. Independent Counsel Starr took almost three years, spending nearly $30 million and never even conducted a second autopsy. This would have been important because several witnesses said there was a wound on Foster's neck and the head X-rays have all disappeared, he noted. In the end, Farah concluded, Starr closed the case by hiring O.J. Simpson's chief forensic expert, Dr. Henry Lee. This demonstrated how desperate Starr was to end his inquiry. The Zogby poll also found that Americans were not satisfied by Starr's Foster inquiry than those that did(31%). An additional 35% of the public responded that they were "not sure" about Starr's handling of the case. In 1995 60 Minutes cited a TIME/CNN poll which showed that 65% of Americans had not accepted the suicide ruling in Foster's Death. 60 Minutes credited reporter Ruddy for having changed American public opinion on the subject. "Since then, even more people have come to Chris Ruddy's and the Western Journalism Center's side," Farah said. "Despite one of the most intensive discrediting operations by any White House, with the complicity of big media like Mike Wallace and 60 Minutes, the public once again shows it has a mind of its own." "These poll numbers underscore the importance and impact organizations like the Western Journalism Center can have," Farah said. To learn more about the Foster case, he strongly encouraged people to read and recommend Christopher Ruddy'' book "The Strange Death of Vincent Foster," available at book stores across America. Zogby Survey 948 Americans surveyed between February 15 through February 17, 1998. Question #1 White House lawyer Vincent Foster was found dead in July 1993. Do you believe that Foster ...? Was Murdered--22% Committed suicide--32% Not sure--46% Question #2 Generally Speaking, do you agree or disagree a government cover-up took place involving the facts and circumstances of Vincent Foster's death? Agree--45% Disagree--23% Not sure--32% Question #3 Do you trust of not trust Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation, which found that Foster committed suicide? Trust--31% No Trust--34% Not sure--35%