Impeachment of Bill Clinton

Guide Note:

President Bill Clinton was the second President in U.S. history to be impeached. Clinton was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 19, 1998 and acquitted by the U.S. Senate on February 12, 1999.

Fast Facts

1. Date of impeachment: December 19, 1998
2. Vote for impeachment on grounds of perjury: 228-206
3. Vote for impeachment on grounds of obstruction of justice: 221-212
4. Length of trial: 21 days
5. Date of acquittal: February 12, 1998
6. U.S. Senate vote: 45 votes for conviction, 55 against
7. Charges: perjury and obstruction of justice
8. Possible outcome: Removal from office

1. Paula Jones: Filed sexual harassment suit which began inquiry
2. Monica Lewinsky: Affair with Clinton gave rise to charges
3. Linda Tripp: Recorded conversations with Lewinsky
4. Kenneth Starr: Independent Counsel investigating Clinton
5. Bob Barr: Introduced initial resolution to impeach
6. William Rehnquist: Chief Justice of Supreme Court; presided over trial

Clinton's impeachment stemmed from an inquiry by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr into several allegations leveled at the President, including a sexual harassment suit brought by Paula Jones. During his investigation, Starr received tapes of conversations Pentagon employee Linda Tripp made of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. In the tapes, Lewinsky told Tripp of engaging in sexual activity with the President in the Oval Office. Tripp then asked both Clinton and Lewinsky about the affair, and both, under oath, denied its existence. After Lewinsky was given immunity, she turned over a dress stained with Clinton's semen (and DNA), and Clinton was forced to admit his involvement.

As a result, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives filed impeachment charges based on the crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice. After the House referred the impeachment to the Senate, a 21-day trial was held, with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. Two-thirds of the Senators (67) needed to vote to convict for Clinton to be removed from office; only 45 voted for conviction.