History Extra: On Friday, November 13, 1998 President Bill Clinton reached an out-of-court settlement with Paula Jones, agreeing to pay her $850,000 to drop the sexual harassment lawsuit that led to the worst political crisis of his career and only the third presidential impeachment inquiry in American history.
The legal battle, in which Hillary Clinton led 4 1/2 years of scorched-earth policy, brought an end to the case with a four-page deal.
The settlement foreclosed the possibility that Clinton’s personal life would be reopened for public inspection at a sensational trial had the lawsuit dismissed in April been reinstated, as many lawyers involved believed it would be. It also may help the president’s allies defend him against independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr’s allegations that he lied and obstructed justice during the case, while providing a new opportunity for the White House to cut a separate deal with Congress to drop impeachment proceedings.
Just hours before the settlement was inked, however, Ken Starr sent new evidence to the House Judiciary Committee stemming from a witness in the Jones case, Kathleen E. Willey, who also accused Clinton of an unwelcome sexual advance.
Ed DeAngelis says
SO WHAT…..that was then
Note: That’s why it’s called History Extra. For perspective.
Don Green says
“”That was then”?–Duh. I suppose you mean either that Clinton’s predatory behavior didn’t happen or, if it did, it doesn’t matter. By analogy, Kennedy’s killing in 1963 either didn’t happen or, I it did, it doesn’t matter. Sir, Clinton’s predatory behavior debased his office, and it DID happen. A number of women WERE damaged, physically and psychologically.
Sadly, the wonderful device of e-mail allows some people to type the first thing that comes to their minds, whereas use of a pen might promote more thoughtful comments.
Mary Harmon says
How dare you defend that rapist…
Paul Plante says
And this is now, or the other day, anyway, at the funeral of Aretha Franklyn, and if I am not mistaken, that is old “Bubba” Clinton sitting right behind Ariana Grande as she is singing and it sure does look from the look on Bill’s face that he sure does appreciate the view of Ariana Grande’s architecture that was right in front of hos face:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/franklin-funeral-bishop-apologizes-to-grande/ar-BBMJaSE?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPDHP17
Talk about looking like you want to reach right out and touch someone, that is old “Bubba” Clinton in that video, alright, and boy, does he look old, but I suppose trying to live with Hillary after she lost to Trump would do that to a body.
Poor Bill.
Paul Plante says
Good morning, Don Green!
As for me, I stayed totally away from the bull**** spew that was going on for the late John McCain, who was signed out for a very expensive piece of U.S. government property back in the Viet Nam days, and who was given a mission to fulfill, and who then not only lost the piece of equipment, but he did not fulfill his mission, either, for which he is now and forever the epitome of the REAL AMERICAN HERO.
John had it hard in Viet Nam because of instead of fulfilling his mission, he was captured by the enemy and held captive by the enemy for the duration of the war, while those who weren’t made captives like John McCain had it quite soft by comparison.
That is the narrative as I understand it anyway.
You would think we were back in the days of the late Roman Republic with all the HOOPLA about John McCain, the quintessential American HERO, who the droner Mike Pence said not only served, but served honorably.
Hey, Mike, so too did a lot of us others serve honorably, but we didn’t try to cover up for some crooked S&L dude who screwed a lot of people, which makes our service less honorable than John’s by Washington, D.C. standards, anyway, which are the lowest standards in the world, lower even than whale poop, as that saying goes.