Video release delayed as White House is accused of sex smears
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Your support makes all the difference.FURIOUS ROWS broke out in Washington last night in the tussle over Bill Clinton's misdoings, with Republicans accusing the White House of leaking sex smears, and Congress failing to agree on the release of a video of the President's testimony.
Mr Clinton's opponents in Congress called for an FBI investigation into allegations that White House officials had leaked details of a 30-year- old sexual indiscretion by Henry Hyde, who heads the committee charged with investigating the President. The reports have triggered fears of a "sexual Armageddon", where everybody's private life is fair game.
The leaks were intimidation which constituted "a direct assault on the US House of Representatives", said Tom DeLay, a leading Republican. He said "top aides who have access to the Oval Office" were responsible. "I have no doubts who it is. I don't have the evidence to prove it. That's why I want the FBI [to investigate]." He noted that some commentators have referred to Sidney Blumenthal, a White House adviser, as the source of the leaks. Mr Blumenthal later strongly denied the claims.
The row came as Congress was debating the release of a videotape of Mr Clinton's testimony on his own misdeeds, but violent disagreements between Democrats and Republicans blocked any action yesterday.
The video contains the President's testimony to Kenneth Starr's investigation, covering his sexual adventures with Monica Lewinsky and alleged attempts to cover them up. It portrays an angry, evasive President fending off questions about his sex life. The Congressional committee was deeply divided on partisan lines, and it broke up without agreement to reconvene today, when it hoped to agree on releasing the tape. The committee was trying to agree on the removal of some sections - the more sexually explicit excerpts - to calm public fears that Congress is simply releasing yet more pornographic material. In part, the arguments reflect fears that if the President's sex life is further exposed, then others will also be vulnerable. As well as Mr Hyde, two other Republicans have come under scrutiny.
Video nasty, page 15
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