Dear Editor,

Maybe the holiday spirit had got into your usual on-point writers in your December 31, 2014 edition, when one wrote: “Former United States President Bill Clinton was almost impeached and removed from office for a sexual act which was not illegal and was socially acceptable.”

This, as far as I am aware, is incorrect, as I believe your writer is under the impression that impeachment in the US system implies being removed from office, though it may be so in other jurisdictions.

President Clinton was in fact impeached. Impeachment of a president is, in the American system, similar to being indicted for a crime. However, Clinton was found not guilty in the subsequent trial in the United States Congress.

Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as criminal or civil punishment.

Summed up very simply, Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on two charges, one of perjury, and one of obstruction of justice, on December 19, 1998.

Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge, and a charge of abuse of power, failed in the House.

He was acquitted of both charges by the Senate on February 12, 1999.

The trial in the United States Senate began right after the seating of the 106th Congress, in which the Republicans began with 55 senators. A two-thirds vote (67 senators) was required to remove Clinton from office. Fifty senators voted to remove Clinton on the obstruction of justice charge and 45 voted to remove him on the perjury charge.

Errol K Miller

errol.miller@lime.com

CAP

Bill Clinton