Bill, how would you argue that Clinton committed perjury in his GJ testimony? Or wouldn't you? Let's leave aside the Jones deposition testimony for a moment, which is what this forum and most have concentrated on.
In the GJ testimony Clinton himself REVEALS and admits the intentionally narrow testimony he gave in the Jones suit. He explains the admittedly hairsplitting interpretation he gave to the detailed definition of "sexual relations" that the judge said should be used in his Jones deposition. He explains that he didn't pay close attention to his lawyer's Bennett's statement to the effect that the President is not having sexual relations of any type or description whatsoever with Ms.Lewinsky. He also says he didn't say it. When challenged by the OIC lawyers that that statement was clearly false, that was when Clinton have he much ridiculed parsing of what "Is" means. It actually made some sense, if you keep in mind that there is no obligation for the Pres. or his lawyer to be helpful or to go beyond the narrow truth. Clinto explained it was strictly true, since he had permanently ended the inappropriate physical aspects of the rationship many, many months before. He had had such a relationship, but wasn't at the general time of the Deposition.
But the point here is, he explained all this in his GJ testimony. No perjury there.
He also explained another ridiculed distinction. His musings about what "alone" meant in the oval office. Firstly, all he had said in this deposition was he couldn't remember if he had ever been alone with Monica. What he said he meant in the GJ testimony, was that there was he thought always someone right outside the office, the door was always or usually open, and he was within earshot. ANyway, where is the GJ perjury.
His explanation of his discussions with Bettie Currie may or may not be fully convincing. He said he was seeking only to refresh his memory as he faced a furor of press inquiry. ANd that he wasn't even aware of the OIC involvement at the time he asked her if he had ever been really alone with Monica. It's very hard to make perjury out of that.
I think the case for GJ perjury is very, very weak.
Don't you?
Doug |
