Washington - In a last-minute decision, an appeals court has temporarily prevented the head of President Clinton's security detail from testifying before the grand jury investigating the Monica Lewinsky case, writes Joe Carroll.
But the court also ruled that the Clinton administration has only 24 hours to bring its case to the US Supreme Court.
Special agent Mr Larry Cockell was already in the building getting ready to appear before the grand jury when the temporary stay on his appearance was handed down. The independent counsel, Mr Ken Starr, had issued subpoenas to Mr Cockell and eight uniformed secret service agents to make them testify to the grand jury.
Mr Cockell's testimony is seen as especially significant as he is the agent physically closest to the President when he leaves the White House.
Yesterday's decision does not mean that the agents will not have to testify at some future date. It is now up to the Supreme Court to decide if it wants to rule on the claim by the Department of Justice that the secret service is covered by "protective privilege". This would mean that the agents are not obliged to testify about what they see and hear during their White House duties.