On January 25, 1999, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., offered a motion to make public senators' deliberations on the proposed dismissal of charges against President Bill Clinton. The motion was defeated, 57-43. Therefore, according to Senate Rule 29, any senator who publicly discusses the deliberations is subject to expulsion. Senate employees who divulge information will be dismissed and face contempt charges.

Rule XXIX, Paragraph 2. When acting upon confidential or executive business, unless the same shall be considered in open executive session, the Senate chamber shall be cleared of all persons except the secretary, the assistant secretary, the principal legislative clerk, the parliamentarian, the executive clerk, the minute and journal clerk, the Sergeant at Arms, the secretaries to the majority and the minority, and such other officers as the presiding officer shall think necessary; and all such officers shall be sworn to secrecy.

Rule XXIX, Paragraph 5. Any senator or officer of the Senate who shall disclose the secret or confidential business or proceedings of the Senate shall be liable, if a senator, to suffer expulsion from the body; and if an officer, to dismissal from the service of the Senate, and to punishment for contempt.

(From the Associated Press)