Impeachment of Bill Clinton
The impeachment of Bill Clinton began in December 1998 by the House of Representatives and led to a trial in the Senate for the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, on two charges, one of perjury and one of obstruction of justice.[1]
| Impeachment of Bill Clinton | |
|---|---|
 Floor proceedings of the U.S. Senate during the trial of President Bill Clinton in 1999, Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. House managers are seated beside the quarter-circular tables on the left and the president's personal counsel on the right. | |
| Accused | Bill Clinton, President of the United States |
| Date | December 19, 1998 to February 12, 1999 |
| Outcome | Acquitted by the U.S. Senate, remained in office |
| Charges | Perjury (2), obstruction of justice, abuse of power |
| Congressional votes | |
| Voting in the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Accusation | Perjury / grand jury |
| Votes in favor | 228 |
| Votes against | 206 |
| Result | Approved |
| Accusation | Perjury / Jones case |
| Votes in favor | 205 |
| Votes against | 229 |
| Result | Rejected |
| Accusation | Obstruction of justice |
| Votes in favor | 221 |
| Votes against | 212 |
| Result | Approved |
| Accusation | Abuse of power |
| Votes in favor | 148 |
| Votes against | 284 |
| Result | Rejected |
| Voting in the U.S. Senate | |
| Accusation | Article I – perjury / grand jury |
| Votes in favor | 45 "guilty" |
| Votes against | 55 "not guilty" |
| Result | Acquitted (67 "guilty" votes necessary for a conviction) |
| Accusation | Article II – obstruction of justice |
| Votes in favor | 50 "guilty" |
| Votes against | 50 "not guilty" |
| Result | Acquitted (67 "guilty" votes necessary for a conviction) |
These charges were caused from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton by Paula Jones. Clinton was found not guilty of these charges by the Senate on February 12, 1999.[2]
Four charges were considered by the full House of Representatives; two passed, making Clinton the second president to be impeached, after Andrew Johnson in 1868.
House vote
| H. Res. 611 – Impeaching President Bill Clinton December 19, 1998 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First article (perjury / grand jury) |
Party | Total votes[3] | ||
| Democratic | Republican | Independent | ||
Yea 
|
5 | 223 | 0 | 228 |
| Nay | 200 | 5 | 1 | 206 |
| Second article (perjury / Jones case) |
Party | Total votes[4] | ||
| Democratic | Republican | Independent | ||
| Yea | 5 | 200 | 0 | 205 |
| Nay
|
200 | 28 | 1 | 229 |
| Third article (obstruction of justice) |
Party | Total votes[5] | ||
| Democratic | Republican | Independent | ||
| Yea
|
5 | 216 | 0 | 221 |
| Nay | 199 | 12 | 1 | 212 |
| Fourth article (abuse of power) |
Party | Total votes[6] | ||
| Democratic | Republican | Independent | ||
| Yea | 1 | 147 | 0 | 148 |
| Nay
|
203 | 81 | 1 | 285 |
Verdict
The Senate vote:
| Articles of Impeachment, U.S. Senate judgement (67 "guilty" votes necessary for a conviction) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Article One (perjury / grand jury) |
Party | Total votes | |
| Democratic | Republican | ||
| Guilty | 0 | 45 | 45 |
| Not guilty
|
45 | 10 | 55 |
| Article Two (obstruction of justice) |
Party | Total votes | |
| Democratic | Republican | ||
| Guilty | 0 | 50 | 50 |
| Not guilty
|
45 | 5 | 50 |
Impeachment Of Bill Clinton Media
December 18, 1998: The House continued debate on four articles of impeachment against President Clinton for perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
Tickets dated January 14 and 15, 1999, for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial
Robe worn by Chief Justice William Rehnquist during the impeachment trial
Congressional Record page, February 12, 1999, opening of the final day of the impeachment trial
Opponents of Clinton's impeachment demonstrating outside the Capitol in December 1998
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References
- ↑ Erskine, Daniel H. (2008). "The Trial of Queen Caroline and the Impeachment of President Clinton: Law As a Weapon for Political Reform". Washington University Global Studies Law Review. 7 (1). ISSN 1546-6981.
- ↑ Baker, Peter (February 13, 1999). The Senate Acquits President Clinton. The Washington Post Co.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/impeach021399.htm. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Miller, Lorraine C. (December 19, 1998). "Final vote results for roll call 543". Office of the Clerk. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Miller, Lorraine C. (December 19, 1998). "Final vote results for roll call 544". Office of the Clerk. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Miller, Lorraine C. (December 19, 1998). "Final vote results for roll call 545". Office of the Clerk. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Miller, Lorraine C. (December 19, 1998). "Final vote results for roll call 546". Office of the Clerk. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
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