January 7, 1999 – The Start of Bill Clinton’s Impeachment Trial

January 7

Copy of Bill Clinton Impeachment Trial Session

On January 7, 1999, the United States Senate met to conduct a presidential impeachment trial for the first time in 130 years.  The proceedings focused on Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, marking only the second time in U.S. history that a sitting president faced an impeachment trial.

The trial followed months of scandal that captivated the nation. In December 1998, just a month prior, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton on two charges: perjury and obstruction of justice. These charges were related to his sworn testimony about his extramarital relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. The allegations and subsequent investigations, led by independent counsel Kenneth Starr, sparked intense debate regarding the intersection of private conduct, public trust, and the Constitution.

The process followed strict constitutional protocols, but it took place against a backdrop of media frenzy and political division. The trial included opening arguments, the presentation of evidence, and discussions about whether to call witnesses. While the House managers, acting as the prosecution, argued for conviction, Clinton’s defense team countered that the charges did not meet the standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors” required for removal from office.

Public opinion played a significant role throughout the trial. Polls showed that many Americans disapproved of Clinton’s actions but did not support his removal from office. The economic prosperity of the late 1990s and Clinton’s policy achievements helped protect him from harsher criticism.

The trial concluded on February 12, 1999, with the Senate voting mostly along party lines. Clinton was acquitted of both charges, as neither article of impeachment received the two-thirds majority required for conviction.