Enough To Impeach?
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
THE CHARGE
1 Concealed evidence about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, including gifts they exchanged
KEY EVIDENCE
Lewinsky and Betty Currie testified that Currie drove to Lewinsky's home to collect gifts on Dec. 28, 1997. According to Lewinsky, Currie said, "The President said you have something to give me."
[THE CHARGE]
2 Helped Lewinsky, a potential witness in the Paula Jones trial, obtain a job in New York City
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Clinton's involvement in the job search intensified immediately after Lewinsky was named a witness. He enlisted the aid of Vernon Jordan, who told him, after she got an offer, "Mission accomplished."
[THE CHARGE]
3 Lied to potential grand-jury witnesses, knowing they would eventually pass on the falsehoods
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Aides John Podesta, Erskine Bowles, Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Ickes testified that Clinton confided to them that he had had no sexual relationship with Lewinsky, including oral sex.
[THE CHARGE]
4 Had an understanding with Lewinsky that they would lie in the Jones case; colluded with her on her false affidavit
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Report says Clinton and Lewinsky reviewed "cover stories" that her trips to the Oval Office were to see Currie or to drop off letters. Lewinsky testified that Clinton suggested she sign the affidavit.
THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION
The President's lawyers say Lewinsky's claims about the gifts contradict Clinton's and Currie's testimony. Neither remembered the President's telling Currie to pick up gifts, some of which Lewinsky kept. Lawyer David Kendall says Clinton never told Lewinsky to lie and that Starr fails to prove Clinton intended to obstruct justice. He says Currie initiated Jordan's involvement in the job search and that "there was no connection" between the affidavit and job offers. He says Currie and Lewinsky were friends, so the cover stories weren't covers at all.
PERJURY
THE CHARGE
5 Lied under oath in his deposition in the Jones case about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky
KEY EVIDENCE
In his deposition, Clinton said he "never had sexual relations" with Lewinsky. But she told the grand jury he touched her genitals or breasts on 10 occasions.
[THE CHARGE]
6 Lied to the Kenneth Starr grand jury about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Questioned about Lewinsky's testimony, Clinton said he stood by his statement that he had never had "sexual relations," even when asked if that included touching of breasts or genitals.
[THE CHARGE]
7 Lied in his deposition about being alone with Lewinsky and about the gifts they exchanged
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Clinton admitted to the grand jury that he had been alone with Lewinsky and had given her gifts just three weeks before the deposition, even though he couldn't recall gifts during the deposition itself.
[THE CHARGE]
8 Lied in his deposition about discussions with Lewinsky over whether she would testify in the Jones case
[KEY EVIDENCE]
In his deposition, Clinton said he wasn't sure whether he and Lewinsky discussed her testifying. But he told the grand jury they did have "a conversation" about it shortly before the deposition.
[THE CHARGE]
9 Lied in his deposition about his discussions with Jordan concerning Lewinsky
[KEY EVIDENCE]
Though Clinton said in his deposition that he didn't know Jordan had talked with Lewinsky about the Jones case, Jordan told the grand jury Clinton thanked him for finding her a lawyer in the case.
THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION
In Friday and Saturday rebuttals, Clinton's attorneys say he didn't perjure himself and that Starr includes supposed examples of lies about sex only for "shock value." They say some of the questions he was asked were "ambiguous" and that he gave "narrow," not false, answers in response. They point out that one other person's testimony isn't enough for a perjury conviction. And they say Starr never proves that Clinton intended to lie--a requirement for perjury. One rebuttal says Starr's real complaint about Clinton's gifts testimony is that he "was not more forthcoming," which doesn't count as perjury. Perhaps realizing all this sounds like hairsplitting, lawyer Charles Ruff told reporters that "legal language" doesn't diminish the President's apologies.
WITNESS TAMPERING
THE CHARGE
10 Attempted to influence Currie's testimony
KEY EVIDENCE
Currie told the grand jury that Clinton called her in on a Sunday and asked her leading questions, such as, "I never touched her, right?" She said he seemed "concerned" and wanted to see her reaction.
THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION
Currie was never supposed to be a witness in the Jones case, so talking with her wasn't tampering. And anyway, as the President testified, he never intended to influence her recollection.
ABUSE OF POWER
THE CHARGE
11 Abused his constitutional authority in order to help cover up his relationship with Lewinsky
KEY EVIDENCE
Clinton abused his power, says the report, by using public denials, lies to the White House staff and the doctrine of Executive Privilege to delay the investigation.
THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION
Failing to admit wrongdoing for a time isn't abusing power. And the Executive Privilege assertion wasn't frivolous because Starr was intruding into "legitimate confidential discussions."