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The President on Trial: Sifting Through the Evidence
By Jon Bonné
Court TV
Updated January 25, 1999
3:15 p.m. ET
Last January, Monica Lewinsky signed a piece of paper which has come to imperil the Clinton presidency. Her affidavit in the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit stated that she never had a sexual relationship with President Clinton.
Only ten days later, Lewinsky's denial was cited by Clinton's lawyer, Robert Bennett, while Clinton was being deposed in the Paula Jones litigation.
Bennett's assertion — that there was no point in asking Clinton about Lewinsky since she herself had denied an affair — sparked the firestorm which has led to Clinton's Senate trial.
Roughly one year later, Americans are left with a mountain of evidence — depositions, grand jury transcripts, e-mails, telephone tapes, even DNA results of a stain on a certain blue dress — that would overwhelm even the most dogged sleuth.
Although the Senate trial is now underway, many do not understand what, exactly, the charges are against the President and what the evidence is to support or rebut them.
Here then, is a relatively simple guide to the charges and the evidence. For those who may be intimidated even by this cursory guide, it might be wise to digest it in small doses. Refer to it as the charges are discussed individually — which is exactly how the Senate, acting as a jury, will try to sort through the impeachment thicket.
(For those of you who'd like a copy to print out and refer to as the trial progresses, we've provided one.)
Article I
Charges 1 & 2: What is Sex? | Charge 3: Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil? | Charge 4: A Man of Influence? | In Sum...A Man of Honor?
Article II
Charges 1 & 2: Greasing the Wheels? | Charge 3: The Trail of the Gift Horse | Charge 4: Escape to New York | Charge 5: Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil? (Part II) | Charge 6: The Four Questions | Charge 7: An Influential Man (Pt. II) | In Sum...All or Nothing?
Version for Printing
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