Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bill Clinton: The infamous moment US president denied affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky

Denial of affair lead to Clinton being only second president to be impeached in US history

Maya Yagoda
Wednesday 19 December 2018 13:00 GMT
Comments
Bill Clinton 1998:' I did not have sexual relations with that woman Miss Lewinsky'

Twenty years ago the US House of Representatives voted to impeach president Bill Clinton for giving false testimony about having a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The political scandal of 1998 saw the 42nd US president give false statements under oath, with a notorious one-liner leaving a mark.

The infamous words were broadcast in a press conference on 26 January 1998: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.”

“I never told anybody to lie, not a single time. Never. These allegations are false and I need to go back to work for the American people,” Mr Clinton continued.

President Clinton had previously given the same denial during a sworn deposition at an ongoing sexual harassment case filed against him by Paula Jones.

In the summer, the president then admitted he had been involved with Ms Lewinsky, deeming the relationship "not appropriate" and "a critical lapse in judgement".

Mr Clinton was later charged with two articles of impeachment. One of perjury for lying under oath to federal judges and the other for obstruction of justice.

Impeachment proceedings then began in early 1999, concluding with Mr Clinton being acquitted of both charges.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in