Lawrence-Huffington feud still sizzles

0 Comments | Insight on the News, June 21, 1999 | by John Elvin

Shelia Lawrence, widow of late ambassador Larry Lawrence who rested temporarily in an undeserved gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery and was disinterred because of a fabricated war record (as reported by Insight in a story that caused a national sensation), has vowed vengeance against those who exposed the situation.

One of the widow's targets, according to an article in the latest issue of George, is conservative columnist Arianna Huffington. Huffington raised questions about an affair in which Shelia Lawrence was alleged to have engaged with -- guess who? -- President Clinton. Lawrence says Huffington tried "to assassinate my character" and she will "use what legal means are available to me to hold [Huffington] accountable."

The story in George is not particularly kind to Shelia Lawrence, going into some detail about her transition from "secret mistress to the adoring wife of a multimillionaire" via Larry Lawrence's "messy divorce." It makes much of Larry's grab for an ambassadorship and Shelia's desire for a White House position -- ambitions that seemed quite realistic based on hefty campaign donations and hard-driving fund-raising efforts.

Upon Larry's death, the article quotes a senior White House official as saying, Shelia "put the squeeze on the president one-on-one" to achieve her late husband's dream of an Arlington burial. In the aftermath of the scandal that resulted in Larry Lawrence's exhumation and reburial elsewhere, Shelia has filed a libel lawsuit against Huffington. The columnist, in turn, has taken a "happy warrior" approach to the matter and is gathering up all the ammo she can in FBI, CIA, Justice and State department files concerning the Lawrences.

"Shelia wants to prove that Huffington is a liar; Huffington wants to reveal Shelia as a fraud," the article concludes. Well, if this goes on, it seems it will be a while yet before Larry Lawrence rests in peace. Or anyone else, for that matter.