. This then acted as an impeachable offense. Clinton also lied about his affair by giving a false testimony in a swearing statement in the Paula Jones case; his conversation with his good friend Vernon Jordan about hooking up Lewinsky with a job; his attempt to prevent Starr’s investigation; and his false testimony in front of Starr’s grand jury.So then having a sexual affair and lying about it met the Constitution’s standards that allow impeachment, which are ”Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Perjury-which he knew he was doing by falsely claiming his testimony in what was a sworn legal proceeding- is a criminal act. But the question was if the Constitution saw a more serious misconduct? Well according to Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist 65, impeachment is to be handled with “the abuse or violation of some public trust.” So, is Clinton’s case “inappropriate behavior” a private affair or a violation of the public trust?Well I do think so but what decisions or answers does the nation’s people have for these questions? Despite the constant discussions and disputes in Congress about the “search for truth,” “impartial investigation,” and “unbiased constitutional judgement,” the impeachment procedure, whatever the effects of the offensive accusation of a president, is political, and not judicial. The House’s voting of impeaching Clinton,(228 to 106 on Article I Perjury),was much along partisan lines, with all except that five Republicans voted “yes” and other five voted “no.” In the year of 1863 the Republican House voted to impeach Democrat Andrew Johnson for opposing the rules and authorization of Congress and clearly violating the Tenure of office act. This acted as a new federal law, because he went against the Republicans’ plan for Reconstruction after the Civil W...
