Monday, April 12, 1999; 1:19 p.m. EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Susan McDougal was found innocent of obstructing Kenneth Starr's Whitewater investigation and the judge declared a mistrial today on the other two charges against her.

U.S. District Judge George Howard Jr. declared the mistrial on two criminal contempt counts just before jurors delivered the innocent verdict in the courtroom.

``I had a fair trial and my day in court and I thank you for that,'' Mrs. McDougal told the judge in court after the jury left the courtroom.

Prosecutor Mark Barrett said a retrial is ``obviously an option.'' Barrett said he hoped prosecutors would decide within a couple of weeks whether to try again.

Mrs. McDougal hugged her fiance, Pat Harris, and her attorney, Mark Geragos.

Mrs. McDougal was charged with obstruction and criminal contempt for refusing to testify to grand juries in the Whitewater probe in 1996 and in 1998.

She said her refusal was based on her fear that she would be charged with perjury unless she falsely testified against the Clintons.

© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press