Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton

Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton
Senate in session during the impeachment trial
Date	January 7 – February 12, 1999 (1 month and 5 days)
Accused	Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
Presiding officer	Chief Justice William Rehnquist
House managers:	Henry Hyde (lead manager) Bob Barr Ed Bryant Steve Buyer Charles Canady Chris Cannon Steve Chabot George Gekas Lindsey Graham Asa Hutchinson Bill McCollum James E. Rogan Jim Sensenbrenner
Defense counsel:	Charles Ruff (White House Counsel) Bruce Lindsey (Deputy White House Counsel) Cheryl Mills (Deputy White House Counsel) Gregory B. Craig (Special White House Counsel) Lanny A. Breuer Dale Bumpers David E. Kendall Nicole Seligman
Outcome	Acquitted by the U.S. Senate, remained in office
Charges	Perjury Obstruction of justice
Cause	Clinton's testimony denying that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton by Paula Jones; allegations made in the Starr Report

The impeachment trial of Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, began in the U.S. Senate on January 7, 1999, and concluded with his acquittal on February 12. After an inquiry between October and December 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 19, 1998; the articles of impeachment charged him with perjury and obstruction of justice. It was the second impeachment trial of a U.S. president, preceded by that of Andrew Johnson.

The charges for which Clinton was impeached stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton by Paula Jones. During pre-trial discovery in the lawsuit, Clinton gave testimony denying that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The catalyst for the president's impeachment was the Starr Report, a September 1998 report prepared by Ken Starr, Independent Counsel, for the House Judiciary Committee. The Starr Report included details outlining a sexual relationship between Clinton and Lewinsky.^[1]

Clinton was acquitted on both articles of impeachment, with neither receiving the two-thirds majority needed for a conviction, and remained in office.