BBC - London - 09/12/98
All eyes on the White House
As Americans digest the explosive allegations of Kenneth Starr's report into the Monica Lewinsky affair, the future of the presidency may now rest with the people.
The Starr report lists 11 charges which could force President Clinton out of the White House.
It accuses him of perjury, lying, obstructing justice and abuse of power and recounts in lurid detail 10 sexual encounters between Mr Clinton and the former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
But President Clinton's team of lawyers and advisors lost no time in mounting their own two-pronged defence strategy. They are now preparing a lengthy, detailed report of the report.
Mr Clinton himself delivered his most contrite apology to date just hours before the release of the report, saying he was "broken spirited", and asking for God's help.
His lawyer, David Kendall, then dismissed the Starr report as a salacious personal attack designed to embarrass and humiliate the president.
He said that while what the president did was wrong, "this private mistake does not amount to an impeachable action."
Testing public opinion
With mid-term elections approaching, public opinion will be all-important in determining the outcome of the battle.
Most Congressmen have reserved judgement on the Starr report, saying they need time to read it fully before forming an opinion.
But some analysts are suggesting they may be waiting to see which way the winds of public opinion are blowing before they play their cards
Democratic Congressmen have already dispersed to their districts to sample the views of their constituents, which will no doubt play a crucial role in determining their own support for the president.
According to early polls, about 60% of Americans still support the president's term in office.
But a growing number believe Mr Clinton should be impeached if he encouraged Miss Lewinsky to lie.
As the battle lines are drawn, and the lurid details in the Starr report sink in, opinion could sway either way.
What next for Clinton?
The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives must now decide whether the allegations in the Starr report constitute "high crimes and misdemeanours."
If so, the committee can begin formal impeachment hearings.
But such hearings would probably not begin until January next year, once the new Congress starts work.
If, after hearings, the committee were to recommend impeachment - a formal accusation of the President - it would be up to the full House to endorse.
Once impeached, Mr Clinton would go before the Senate for what would, in effect be a trial.
But as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Henry Hyde, says, for now they are "at the beginning of a long climb up a steep mountain." |
