President Clinton's answers to Judiciary Committee's questions

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Copyright © 1998 Associated Press.
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Here are President Clinton's answers to the questions submitted by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde regarding Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky. Sometimes, Clinton furnished a single answer to several questions. Footnotes, referring to grand jury testimony, affidavits or other legal documents, have been omitted.

Set forth below are the answers to the questions that you have asked me.
I would like to repeat, at the outset, something that I have said before about my approach to these proceedings. I have asked my attorneys to participate actively, but the fact that there is a legal defense to the various allegations cannot obscure the hard truth, as I have said repeatedly, that my conduct was wrong. It was also wrong to mislead people about what happened and I deeply regret that.
For me, this long ago ceased to be primarily a legal or political issue and became instead a painful personal one, demanding atonement and daily work toward reconciliation and restoration of trust with my family, my friends, my administration and the American people. I hope these answers will contribute to a speedy and fair resolution of this matter.
1. Do you admit or deny that you are the chief law enforcement officer of the United States of America?
The President is frequently referred to as the chief law enforcement officer, although nothing in the Constitution specifically designates the president as such. Article II Section 1 of the United States Constitution states that "the executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America," and the law enforcement function is a component of the executive power.
2. Do you admit or deny that upon making your oath of office that you swore you would faithfully execute that office of President of the United States and would, to the best of your ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States?
At my inaugurations in 1993 and 1997 I took the following oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of The United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
3. Do you admit or deny that pursuant to Article II, section 2 of the Constitution you have a duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed?"
Article II Section 3 ( not Section 2) of the Constitution states that the President "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed" and that is a presidential obligation.
4. Do you admit or deny that you are a member of the bar and an officer of the court of a state of the United States, subject to the rules of professional responsibility and ethics applicable to the bar of that state?
I have an active license to practice law (inactive for continuing legal education purposes) issued by the Supreme Court of Arkansas. The license, No. 73017, was issued in 1973.
5. Do you admit or deny that you took an oath in which you swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in a deposition conducted as part of a judicial proceeding in the case of Jones v. Clinton on Jan. 17, 1998?
I took an oath to tell the truth on Jan. 17, 1998, before my deposition in the Jones v. Clinton case. While I do not recall the precise wording of that oath, as I previously stated in my grand jury testimony on Aug. 17, 1998, in taking the oath "I believed then that I had to answer the questions truthfully."
6. Do you admit or deny that you took an oath in which you swore or affirmed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, before a grand jury empaneled as part of a judicial proceeding before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit on Aug. 17, 1998?
As the Aug. 17, 1998, videotape reflects, I was asked, "Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in this matter will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" and I answered, "I do."
7. Do you admit or deny that on or about October 7, 1997, you received a letter composed by Monica Lewinsky in which she expressed dissatisfaction with her search for a job in New York?
At some point I learned of Ms. Lewinsky's decision to seek suitable employment in New York. I do not recall receiving a letter in which she expressed dissatisfaction about her New York job search. I understand Ms. Lewinsky has stated that she sent a note indicating her decision to seek employment in New York, but I do not believe she has said the note expressed dissatisfaction about her search for a job there.
8. Do you admit or deny that you telephoned Monica Lewinsky early in the morning on October 10, 1997, and offered to assist her finding a job in New York?
I understand that Ms. Lewinsky testified that I called her on the 9th of October, 1997. I do not recall that particular telephone call.
9-12. Do you admit or deny that on or about October 11, 1997, you met with Monica Lewinsky in or about the Oval Office dining room? Do you admit or deny that ... [she] furnished to you ... a list of jobs in New York in which she was interested? Do you admit or deny that ... you suggested to [her] that Vernon Jordan may be able to assist her in her job search? Do you admit or deny that ... after meeting with [her] and discussing her search for a job in New York, you telephoned Vernon Jordan?
At some point, Ms. Lewinsky either discussed with me or gave me a list of the kinds of jobs she was interested in, although I do not know whether it was on Saturday, Oct. 11, 1997. Records included in the OIC [Office of Independent Counsel] referral indicate that Ms. Lewinsky visited the White House on Oct. 11, 1997, and I may have seen her on that day.
I do not believe I suggested to Ms. Lewinsky that Mr. Jordan might be able to assist her in her job search, and I understand that Ms. Lewinsky has stated that she asked me if Mr. Jordan could assist her in finding a job in New York.
I speak to Mr. Jordan often and I understand that records included in the OIC referral that he telephoned me shortly after Ms. Lewinsky left the White House complex. I understand that Mr. Jordan testified that he and I did not discuss Ms. Lewinsky during that call.
13-15, 19. Do you admit or deny that you discussed with Monica Lewinsky prior to Dec. 17, 1997, a plan in which she would pretend to bring you papers with a work-related purpose when in fact such papers had no work-related purpose, in order to conceal your relationship? Do you admit or deny that you discussed with [her] ... that Betty Currie should be the one to clear [her] in to see you, so [she] could say that she was visiting with Ms. Currie instead of with you? Do you admit or deny that you discussed with [her] ... that if either of you were questioned about the existence of your relationship you would deny its existence? Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 17, 1997, you suggested to [her] that she could say to anyone inquiring about her relationship with you that her visits to the Oval Office were for the purpose of visiting with Betty Currie or to deliver papers to you?
I was asked essentially these same questions by OIC lawyers. I testified that Ms. Lewinsky and I "may have talked about what to do in a non-legal context at some point in the past, but I have no specific memory of that conversation." That continues to be my recollection today -- that is, any such conversation was not in connection with her status as a witness in the Jones v. Clinton case.
16. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 6, 1997, you learned that Monica Lewinsky's name was on a witness list in the case of Jones v. Clinton?
As I stated in my Aug. 17th grand jury testimony, I believe that I found out that Ms. Lewinsky's name was on a witness list in the Jones v. Clinton case late in the afternoon of the 6th of December, 1997.
17-18. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 17, 1997, you told Monica Lewinsky that her name was on the witness list in the case of Jones v. Clinton? Do you admit or deny that ... you suggested to [her] that the submission of an affidavit in the case of Jones v. Clinton might suffice to prevent her from having to testify personally in that case?
As I previously testified, I recalled telephoning Ms. Lewinsky to tell her Ms. Currie's brother had died, and that call was in the middle of December. I do not recall other particulars of such a call, including whether we discussed the fact that her name was on the Jones v. Clinton witness list. As I stated in my Aug. 17th grand jury testimony in response to essentially the same questions, it is "quite possible that it happened. ... I don't have any memory of it, but I certainly wouldn't dispute that I might have said that [she was on the witness list].
I recall that Ms. Lewinsky asked me at some time in December whether she might be able to get out of testifying in the Jones v. Clinton case because she knew nothing about Ms. Jones or the case. I told her I believed other witnesses had executed affidavits and there was a chance they would not have to testify. As I stated in my Aug. 17th grand jury testimony, "I felt strongly that [Ms. Lewinsky] could execute an affidavit that would be factually truthful, that might get her out of having to testify." I never asked or encouraged Ms. Lewinsky to lie in her affidavit, as Ms. Lewinsky herself has confirmed.20. Do you admit or deny that you gave false and misleading testimony under oath when you stated during your deposition in the case of Jones v. Clinton on Jan. 17, 1998, that you did not know if Monica Lewinsky had been subpoenaed to testify in that case?
It is evident from my testimony on pages 69 to 70 of the deposition that I did know on Jan. 17, 1998, that Ms. Lewinsky had been subpoenaed in the Jones v. Clinton case. Ms. Jones' lawyer's question, "Did you talk to Mr. Lindsey about what action, if any, should be taken as a result of her being served with a subpoena?" and my response, "No," reflected my understanding that Ms. Lewinsky had been subpoenaed. That testimony was not false and misleading.
21. Do you admit or deny that you gave false and misleading testimony under oath when you stated before the grand jury on Aug. 17, 1998, that you did know, prior to Jan. 17, l998, that Monica Lewinsky had been subpoenaed to testify in the case of Jones v. Clinton?
As my testimony on Jan, 17 reflected, and as I testified on Aug. 17, 1998, I knew prior to Jan. 17, 1998, that Ms. Lewinsky had been subpoenaed to testify in Jones v. Clinton. That testimony was not false and misleading.22. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 28, 1997, you had a discussion with Monica Lewinsky at the White House regarding her moving to New York?
When I met with Ms. Lewinsky on Dec. 28, 1997, I knew she was planning to move to New York and we discussed her move.
23. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 28, 1997, you had a discussion with Monica Lewinsky at the White House in which you suggested to her that she move to New York soon because by moving to New York, the lawyers representing Paula Jones in the case of Jones v. Clinton may not contact her?
Ms. Lewinsky had decided to move to New York well before the end of December 1997. By Dec. 28, Ms. Lewinsky had been subpoenaed. I did not suggest that she could avoid testifying in the Jones v. Clinton case by moving to New York.
24-25. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 28, 1997, you had a discussion with Monica Lewinsky at the White House regarding gifts you had given to Ms. Lewinsky that were subpoenaed in the case of Jones v. Clinton? Do you admit or deny that ... you expressed concern to [her] about a hatpin you had given to her as a gift which had been subpoenaed in the case ... ?
As I told the grand jury, "Ms. Lewinsky said something to me like, "What if they ask me about the gifts you've given me," but I do not know whether that conversation occurred on Dec. 28, 1997, or earlier. Whenever this conversation occurred, I testified I told her "that if they asked her for gifts, she'd have to give them whatever she had. ... " I simply was not concerned about the fact that I had given her gifts. Indeed, I gave her additional gifts on Dec. 28, 1997. I also told the grand jury that I do not recall Ms. Lewinsky telling me that the subpoena specifically called for a hatpin that I had given her.
26-27. Do you admit or deny that on or about Dec. 28, 1997, you discussed with Betty Currie gifts previously given by you to Monica Lewinsky? Do you admit or deny that ... you requested, instructed, suggested to or otherwise discussed with [her] that she take possession of gifts previously given to Monica Lewinsky by you?
I do not recall any conversation with Ms. Currie on or about Dec. 28, 1997, about gifts I had previously given to Ms. Lewinsky. I never told Ms. Currie to take possession of gifts I had given Ms. Lewinsky. I understand Ms. Currie has stated that Ms. Lewinsky called Ms. Currie to ask her to hold a box.28. Do you admit or deny that you had a telephone conversation on Jan. 6, 1998, with Vernon Jordan during which you discussed Monica Lewinsky's affidavit, yet to be filed, in the case of Jones v. Clinton?
White House records included in the OIC Referral reflect that I spoke to Mr. Jordan on Jan. 6, 1998. I do not recall whether we discussed Ms. Lewinsky's affidavit during a telephone call on that date.
29-30. Do you admit or deny that you had knowledge of the fact that Monica Lewinsky executed for filing an affidavit in the case of Jones v. Clinton on Jan. 7, 1998? Do you admit or deny that ... you had a discussion with Vernon Jordan in which he mentioned that [she] executed [that] affidavit ... ?
As I testified to the grand jury, "I believe that [Mr. Jordan] did notify us when she signed her affidavit. While I do not recall the timing, as I told the grand jury, I have no reason to doubt Mr. Jordan's statement that he notified me about the affidavit around Jan. 7, 1998.
31. Do you admit or deny that on or about Jan. 7, 1998, you had a discussion with Vernon Jordan in which he mentioned that he was assisting Monica Lewinsky in finding a job in New York?
I told the grand jury that I was aware that Mr. Jordan was assisting Ms. Lewinsky in her job search in connection with her move to New York. I have no recollection as to whether Mr. Jordan discussed it with me on or about Jan. 7, 1998.
32-33. Do you admit or deny that you viewed a copy of the affidavit executed by Monica Lewinsky on Jan. 7, 1998, in the case of Jones v. Clinton, prior to your deposition in that case? Do you admit or deny that you had knowledge that your counsel viewed a copy of the affidavit ... prior to your deposition in that case?
I do not believe I saw this affidavit before my deposition, although I cannot be absolutely sure. The record indicates that my counsel had seen the affidavit at some time prior to the deposition.
34, 40. Do you admit or deny that you had knowledge that any facts or assertions contained in the affidavit executed by Monica Lewinsky on Jan. 7, 1998, in the case of Jones v. Clinton were not true?
I was asked at my deposition in January about two paragraphs of Ms. Lewinsky's affidavit. With respect to Paragraph 6, I explained the extent to which I was able to attest to its accuracy.
With respect to Paragraph 8, I stated in my deposition that it was true. In my Aug. 17th grand jury testimony, I sought to explain the basis for that deposition answer: "I believe at the time that she filled out this affidavit, if she believed that the definition of sexual relationship was two people having intercourse, then this is accurate."

Continued in Part II

This article was published on Saturday, November 28, 1998

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