Duke University boosters, others hire former federal prosecutor, Clinton lawyer

DURHAM, N.C. -- A small group of boosters and others close to the Duke University lacrosse team have hired President Bill Clinton's former lawyer as part of an aggressive public relations effort to argue that the players did not rape a woman at an off-campus party.\nBob Bennett, a former federal prosecutor and Washington attorney who represented Clinton in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, is serving as a spokesman for a group calling itself the Committee for Fairness to Duke Families.\nHe is not expected to represent any players, but he has joined the chorus of those who fear for the reputation of the team and the university.\n"It is unfortunate that members of the Duke community, players and families are being judged before all the facts are in," Bennett said in a statement. "A lot of innocent young people and the families are being hurt, and unfortunately this situation is being abused by people with separate agendas. It is grossly unfair, and cool heads must prevail."\nThe group has asked to meet with Duke President Richard Brodhead. Neither Brodhead nor Bennett returned calls for comment.\nNo charges have been filed while District Attorney Mike Nifong presses on with his investigation of allegations that a stripper was gang-raped at a team party March 13. Earlier this week, lawyers for the players said that DNA tests failed to connect any members of the 47-man team to the alleged attack.\nThe players' parents -- initially silent -- have also started to speak out.\nBrian Loftus, who has two sons on the team, wondered Wednesday why Nifong was continuing to press ahead with the case.\n"I don't understand it," said Loftus, of Syosset, N.Y.\nNifong has refused requests for an interview. He is running for another term in May and took part in a candidate forum Wednesday evening, in which he reiterated that he believes a medical exam of the alleged victim indicates a crime occurred.\n"The fact is, I didn't pick the crime. I didn't pick the time," Nifong said at the forum. "But I'm going to do the case right"