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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
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Bill Clinton 1998:' I did not have sexual relations with that woman Miss Lewinsky'

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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.

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