Suicide Note: In D.C., `Ruining People Is Considered Sport'

WASHINGTON - Deputy White House counsel Vince Foster committed suicide after writing a note saying, among other things, that he "was not meant for the job or the spotlight of public life in Washington," officials said today.

"Here, ruining people is considered sport," he said in the note found torn to pieces almost a week after his death July 20.

Foster's body was found at Fort Marcy, a battlefield park in suburban Virginia.

It was not known exactly when he wrote the note, said U.S. Park Police Chief Robert Langston.

Langston said the condition of the death scene, the medical examiner's findings and the information from friends and family about Foster's anxiety and job concerns clearly indicate that Foster committed suicide.

In the note that previously been described by a White House official as akin to a draft of a resignation letter, Foster wrote, "The public will never believe the innocence of the Clintons and their loyal staff."

The next line took a direct shot at the Wall Street Journal, which had targeted him for critical editorials: "The WSJ editors lie without consequence."

The note - written in neat handwriting with no scratch-outs but with only two sentences ending with periods - also makes several allegations that are being pursued by the Justice Department.

After saying that no one in the White House did anything wrong in connection with the travel-office scandal and that "there was no intent to benefit any individual or specific group," Foster wrote: "The FBI lied in their report to the AG," a reference to Attorney General Janet Reno.

In addition, he wrote a comment that could not immediately be explained by either Langston or Robert Bryant, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Washington field office.

"The Ushers Office plotted to have excessive costs incurred, taking advantage of Kaki and HRC." Kaki, said Langston, was thought to be a White House employee, and HRC was a reference to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Deputy Attorney General Philip Heymann, who was assigned by Reno to coordinate the investigation, had asked that reports by both the FBI and the U.S. Park Police be filed by Friday.

------------------------------------------------------- THE TEXT OF THE NOTE FOUND IN VINCE FOSTER'S BRIEFCASE: -------------------------------------------------------

I made mistakes from ignorance, inexperience and overwork.

I did not knowingly violate any law or standard of conduct.

No one in the White House, to my knowledge, violated any law or standard of conduct, including any action in the travel office. There was no intent to benefit any individual or specific group.

The FBI lied in their report to the AG.

The press is covering up the illegal benefits they received from the travel staff.

The GOP has lied and misrepresented its knowledge and role and covered up a prior investigation.

The Ushers Office plotted to have excessive costs incurred, taking advantage of Kaki and HRC.

The public will never believe the innocence of the Clintons and their loyal staff.

The WSJ editors lie without consequence.

I was not meant for the job or the spotlight of public life in Washington. Here ruining people is considered sport.