The impeachment of Presidents Clinton and Nixon Essay Example for Free

The impeachment of Presidents Clinton and Nixon Essay Clinton was impeached as President of the United States on December 19, 1998 by the House of Representatives. The charges were perjury and obstruction of justice. The Senate acquitted Clinton on both counts in a trail concluding on February 12, 1999. The charges arose from an investigation by independent counsel Kenneth Starr. Originally dealing with the failed land deal years earlier known as Whitewater, Starr expanded his investigation into Clintons conduct during the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former Arkansas government employee, Paula Jones. In a sworn deposition taken for this case, Clinton denied having sexual relations with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Based on taped phone conversations between Lewinsky and her confidante, Starr reached the conclusion that Clintons statement constituted perjury. The Senate impeachment trail lasted form January 7, 1999 until February 12. No witnesses were called during the trail. The perjury charge was defeated with 45 votes for conviction and 55 against. The obstruction of justice charge was defeated with 50 for conviction and 50 against. Again, the impeachment effort lacked bipartisan support, with no Democratic votes for conviction. In March, 1998 Kathleen Willey, a White House aide, alleged that Clinton had sexually assaulted her. Also in 1998, Juanita Broaddrick alleged that Clinton had raped her in 1978. No evidence was produces of charges brought; despite being acquitted in his Senate impeachment trail, Clinton was disbarred from practicing Law for five years by the Senate of Arkansas and the United States Supreme Court. President Nixon was impeached in 1974. He was impeached because of high crimes and misdemeanors. President Nixon was involved in many things that lead to his impeachment. Under the first of two articles Nixon was impeached for a variety of things. For starters he had been making false and misleading statements to the government and the public people. He was also withholding information and allowing and encouraging witnesses to give false or misleading statements, and attempted to misuse the CIA. Nixon even went as far as to allow secret payments to influence witnesses and attempted to interfere with FBI and other investigations into the break-ins of the Watergate scandal. Nixon also leaked information about the investigations to  help the accused and insinuating the people who refuse to testify against him or who give false testimony will receive favors. He also engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens and impairing the due and proper administration of justice. I think that Congress was well justified to impeach both of these presidents. Looking at every thing that these guys did it is amazing that they were even elected to me. So yes Congress was justified in impeaching President Clinton and President Nixon.