Impeachment Hearings
(12/8/98)
The White House began presenting President Clinton's defense against impeachment to the House Judiciary Committee today. Charles Sherrill is covering the hearing from our Washington bureau.
The is the first of two days the Judiciary Committee gave the President to make his case. His lead lawyer, one of 16 people participating in the President's defense, said Clinton's conduct was sinful but not impeachable. One witness argued that the lame duck House lacks authority to impeach. And this afternoon, former Utah Congressman Wayne Owens, who voted to impeach President Nixon, said that's not a proper remedy in President Clinton's case:
FORMER UTAH REP. WAYNE OWENS: "I HOPE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT MISS ITS OPPORTUNITY TO CENSURE AND CONDEMN THIS PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS. I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A SENATE WOULD EVER CONVICT A PRESIDENT BASED ON THE ARTICLE YOU SEND OVER. IF YOU SEND IT OVER TO SEE WHETHER THEY WILL OR NOT I THINK YOU CREATE A GREAT, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL CONUNDRUM."
The Committee remains deeply divided along political party lines and several members said it's now clear they will pass articles of impeachment. The final vote will likely occur on Saturday, moving the matter to the House floor next week.
