Over a century later, Bill Clinton would be impeached.
Naturally, impeachments are both political and partisan. Because Bill Clinton was a Democrat, his party defended him. As historian Andrew McCarthy writes, “Democrats, prominently including women’s-rights advocates, closed ranks around Bill Clinton.”
Clinton had committed several crimes, which began to be exposed as investigators started to examine charges filed against him in connection with complaints brought forth in civil lawsuits. McCarthy writes:
According to the victim’s credible accusation, Clinton had raped Juanita Broaddrick in 1978.
This crime is shocking enough, but even more so when the reader considers that Clinton held an elected office when he committed the offense:
Clinton, at the time, was the 32-year-old attorney general of Arkansas.As this crime was being investigated, others came to light. Bill Clinton had a habitual pattern of sexual assault. Officials eventually compiled a long list of victims.
Unlike other cases in which allegations of impropriety are made against some government official, in Clinton’s case, these were no mere allegations. The results of court proceedings confirm that Clinton acted criminally.
His sexual assault against Ms. Broaddrick came to light during the investigation of Clinton’s obstruction of a sexual-harassment suit filed against him by another woman, Paula Jones. She alleged that, while governor of Arkansas, Clinton had exposed himself to her, demanding oral sex. She declined and fled from the room.
The court worked to find justice for the victims. Clinton, in an effort end the proceedings, negotiated an agreement. He hoped to avoid further attention from judges.
President Clinton eventually paid $850,000 to settle the matter out of court.
But despite ending the civil suit with an out-of-court settlement, Clinton was still held responsible by the justice system for his crimes. Further victims, Leslie Millwee and Kathleen Willey, presented testimony.
When asked by investigators about his activities, Clinton lied. He lied after having taken an oath to present honest statements. He lied to court officials. That is a serious crime.
The president was later held in contempt of court by a federal judge for providing perjurious testimony. That testimony was about Monica Lewinsky. It was also through Ms. Jones’s case that we discovered that Clinton, while the 50-year-old president of the United States, had arranged Oval Office sexual liaisons with the then-22-year-old White House intern.
Because he was found guilty of perjury, Bill Clinton’s law license was taken from him. His is no longer allowed to appear as a lawyer in court, or to sign any documents as a lawyer.
The courts fined Clinton $90,000.00 for his perjury in the Paula Jones case, and $25,000 for the Monica Lewinsky case.
But President Clinton paid the highest price for his crimes when he was impeached by Congress. Only two presidents have been impeached in the 250-year-history of the United States (so far). Clinton’s legacy has been permanently marked: history books for centuries into the future will note his impeachment.
Oddly, although his crimes were against women, some of strongest supporters were women: Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Joy Behar, and others. These women spoke publicly, defending Bill Clinton.
There is no doubt that Bill Clinton is guilty of sexual assault. There are questions about why women would defend such a man.
