White House insistence that Kenneth Starr's investigation is an unwarranted exploration of the President's sex life keeps getting undermined by reports that raise the issue of obstruction of justice. As President, Bill Clinton has vast powers, but by law and Presidential tradition, none permit cancellation of statutory law or intervention in legal processes like sworn depositions in civil suits and grand jury testimony. For that reason, the report in today's Times that Betty Currie, the President's secretary, told investigators she was summoned by the President shortly after he had given sworn testimony to hear a detailed account in which he asserted he had never been alone with Monica Lewinsky marks a somber turn in this story. Mrs. Currie later told investigators they had, in fact, been alone. She also reportedly retrieved gifts Mr. Clinton gave Ms. Lewinsky that had been subpoenaed.