Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has described the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal as “a mistake,” arguing that the proceedings became excessively focused on sexual conduct rather than allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Gingrich, who led House Republicans during Clinton’s 1998 impeachment battle, explained: “I think it was a mistake because the real problem wasn’t Lewinsky. The real problem was he had committed perjury in a case involving sexual harassment while he was governor.”
The former speaker added that the impeachment effort was undermined by its public association with Clinton’s relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, rather than the broader legal issues surrounding sworn testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit. “In fact,” Gingrich stated, “he was stripped of his law license in Arkansas after he left the presidency and for five years couldn’t practice because he clearly committed a felony.”
Clinton’s impeachment stemmed from an investigation led by independent counsel Ken Starr, appointed in 1994 by then-Attorney General Janet Reno to examine the Clintons’ involvement in the Whitewater real estate venture. Starr’s inquiry later expanded to include allegations related to Clinton’s relationship with Lewinsky and testimony connected to the Paula Jones lawsuit.
During a deposition, Clinton denied having a sexual relationship with Lewinsky, prompting Starr to conclude the president had lied under oath. The findings led House Republicans to impeach Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, making him the second U.S. president to face impeachment.
Gingrich noted: “I always argued the question, ‘Is he allowed to commit felonies?’ But by allowing it to be about sex, it trivialized it.” Reflecting on 1998, Gingrich recalled a conversation with his daughters at an Atlanta restaurant where they warned younger Americans would resent Republicans if the impeachment fight damaged the economy or retirement savings “because of some stupid intern.”
Clinton mounted an aggressive legal defense during the scandal, famously disputing the meaning of the word “is” in testimony and challenging definitions related to sexual conduct. He was later held in civil contempt by a federal judge for misleading testimony in the Jones case, had his Arkansas law license suspended for five years, and lost his ability to argue cases before the Supreme Court.
The Senate ultimately acquitted Clinton on both impeachment charges in 1999, allowing him to complete his second term in office. Gingrich resigned as speaker weeks prior to Clinton’s acquittal following Republican losses in the 1998 midterm elections and mounting controversy over ethics complaints against him.
