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Enough to Impeach?

Starr's report lays out in immense detail the charges against the President. But it's not over yet

TIME magazine

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

THE CHARGE

1 Concealed evidence about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, including gifts they exchanged

KEY EVIDENCE

Lewinsky and Betty Currie testified that Currie drove to Lewinsky's home to collect gifts on Dec. 28, 1997. According to Lewinsky, Currie said, "The President said you have something to give me."

2 Helped Lewinsky, a potential witness in the Paula Jones trial, obtain a job in New York City

Clinton's involvement in the job search intensified immediately after Lewinsky was named a witness. He enlisted the aid of Vernon Jordan, who told him, after she got an offer, "Mission accomplished."

3 Lied to potential grand-jury witnesses, knowing they would eventually pass on the falsehoods

Aides John Podesta, Erskine Bowles, Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Ickes testified that Clinton confided to them that he had had no sexual relationship with Lewinsky, including oral sex.

4 Had an understanding with Lewinsky that they would lie in the Jones case; colluded with her on her false affidavit

Report says Clinton and Lewinsky reviewed "cover stories" that her trips to the Oval Office were to see Currie or to drop off letters. Lewinsky testified that Clinton suggested she sign the affidavit.

THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION

The President's lawyers say Lewinsky's claims about the gifts contradict Clinton's and Currie's testimony. Neither remembered the President's telling Currie to pick up gifts, some of which Lewinsky kept. Lawyer David Kendall says Clinton never told Lewinsky to lie and that Starr fails to prove Clinton intended to obstruct justice. He says Currie initiated Jordan's involvement in the job search and that "there was no connection" between the affidavit and job offers. He says Currie and Lewinsky were friends, so the cover stories weren't covers at all.

PERJURY

THE CHARGE

5 Lied under oath in his deposition in the Jones case about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky

KEY EVIDENCE

In his deposition, Clinton said he "never had sexual relations" with Lewinsky. But she told the grand jury he touched her genitals or breasts on 10 occasions.

6 Lied to the Kenneth Starr grand jury about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky

Questioned about Lewinsky's testimony, Clinton said he stood by his statement that he had never had "sexual relations," even when asked if that included touching of breasts or genitals.

7 Lied in his deposition about being alone with Lewinsky and about the gifts they exchanged

Clinton admitted to the grand jury that he had been alone with Lewinsky and had given her gifts just three weeks before the deposition, even though he couldn't recall gifts during the deposition itself.

8 Lied in his deposition about discussions with Lewinsky over whether she would testify in the Jones case

In his deposition, Clinton said he wasn't sure whether he and Lewinsky discussed her testifying. But he told the grand jury they did have "a conversation" about it shortly before the deposition.

9 Lied in his deposition about his discussions with Jordan concerning Lewinsky

Though Clinton said in his deposition that he didn't know Jordan had talked with Lewinsky about the Jones case, Jordan told the grand jury Clinton thanked him for finding her a lawyer in the case.

THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION

In Friday and Saturday rebuttals, Clinton's attorneys say he didn't perjure himself and that Starr includes supposed examples of lies about sex only for "shock value." They say some of the questions he was asked were "ambiguous" and that he gave "narrow," not false, answers in response. They point out that one other person's testimony isn't enough for a perjury conviction. And they say Starr never proves that Clinton intended to lie--a requirement for perjury. One rebuttal says Starr's real complaint about Clinton's gifts testimony is that he "was not more forthcoming," which doesn't count as perjury. Perhaps realizing all this sounds like hairsplitting, lawyer Charles Ruff told reporters that "legal language" doesn't diminish the President's apologies.

WITNESS TAMPERING

THE CHARGE

10 Attempted to influence Currie's testimony

KEY EVIDENCE

Currie told the grand jury that Clinton called her in on a Sunday and asked her leading questions, such as, "I never touched her, right?" She said he seemed "concerned" and wanted to see her reaction.

THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION

Currie was never supposed to be a witness in the Jones case, so talking with her wasn't tampering. And anyway, as the President testified, he never intended to influence her recollection.

ABUSE OF POWER

THE CHARGE

11 Abused his constitutional authority in order to help cover up his relationship with Lewinsky

KEY EVIDENCE

Clinton abused his power, says the report, by using public denials, lies to the White House staff and the doctrine of Executive Privilege to delay the investigation.

THE WHITE HOUSE VERSION

Failing to admit wrongdoing for a time isn't abusing power. And the Executive Privilege assertion wasn't frivolous because Starr was intruding into "legitimate confidential discussions."


MORE TIME STORIES:

Cover Date: September 21, 1998

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