(2/12/99)
(Capitol Hill-AP) -- The process has worked. That's the view of one leading
Republican senator, after the Senate vote not to convict President Clinton on
the two articles of impeachment.
Orrin Hatch of Utah, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says the
vote on the perjury allegation -- in which ten Republicans joined Democrats in
refusing to convict -- marks a definite defeat for the House prosecutors.
He said the second article -- obstruction of justice -- ended in a "hung
jury," a 50-50 tie. But without the 67 votes required, that article also
failed.
Hatch says he finds it "amazing" that Democrats could vote as they did, even
after all of the criticism that they heaped on their president.
He said he and his fellow Republicans will be able to work with President
Clinton from here on -- saying that the institution of the presidency is more
important than any one person.
