(2/11/99)
It's the third and possibly final day of the Senate's closed-door deliberations on President Clinton's future. Although it's almost certain that the President will be acquitted when the vote is taken. NBC's Beverly Kirk has the latest from Washington.
Another day behind closed doors to deliberate an issue many senators have already decided. With around a third of the senators still planning to speak, the vote on the articles of impeachment will likely be pushed back to Friday.
Sen. Trent Lott / (R) Majority Leader: "As soon as we can see clearly when we would move to the final vote we would notify the public and the press."
Some republicans and democrats have already announced how they'll vote.
Sen. Tom Harkin / (D) Iowa: "They did not prove perjury and they certainly have not proven obstruction of justice."
Sen. Wayne Allard / (R) Colorado: "I think the fact that the president lied under oath is quite evident. I also believe the evidence is quite strong that there was obstruction of justice."
The only remaining question.. will either article garner a simple majority of 51 votes? It wouldn't be enough to convict the President. But it would be a symbolic victory for republicans who have pushed for the President's removal. Meanwhile, some senators are looking ahead to life after the trial and the relationship between the president and the congress.
Sen. Charles Grassley / (R) Iowa: "A lot of healing will need to be done. Damage has been done to the office of the presidency."
And, as for a formal censure resolution after the impeachment vote, it appears less and less likely to happen.
