105th Congress > House > Vote 1162

Date: 1998-12-19

Result: 228-206 (Agreed to)

Clerk session vote number: 543

Vote Subject Matter: Civil Liberties / Domestic Social Policy

Bill number: HRES611

Question: Adopting the First Article

Description: (HOUSE AGREED TO ARTICLE I, OF H. RES. 611: IN HIS CONDUCT WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, IN VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL OATH FAITHFULLY TO EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND, TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO TAKE CARE THAT THE LAWS BE FAITHFULLY EXECUTED, HAS WILLFULLY CORRUPTED AND MANIPULATED THE JUDICIAL PROCESS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN AND EXONERATION, IMPEDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IN THAT: ON AUGUST 17, 1998, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON SWORE TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH BEFORE A FEDERAL GRAND JURY OF THE UNITED STATES. CONTRARY TO THAT OATH, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON WILLFULLY PROVIDED PERJURIOUS, FALSE AND MISLEADING TESTIMONY TO THE GRAND JURY CONCERNING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE NATURE AND DETAILS OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH A SUBORDINATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE; (2) PRIOR PERJURIOUS, FALSE AND MISLEADING TESTIMONY HE GAVE IN A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST HIM; (3) PRIOR FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS HE ALLOWED HIS ATTORNEY TO MAKE TO A FEDERAL JUDGE IN THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION; AND (4) HIS CORRUPT EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES AND TO IMPEDE THE DISCOVERY OF EVIDENCE IN THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION. IN DOING THIS, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON HAS UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF HIS OFFICE, HAS BROUGHT DISREPUTE ON THE PRESIDENCY, HAS BETRAYED HIS TRUST AS PRESIDENT, AND HAS ACTED IN A MANNER SUBVERSIVE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND JUSTICE, TO THE MANIFEST INJURY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. WHEREFORE, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, BY SUCH CONDUCT, WARRANTS IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL, AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE AND DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD AND ENJOY ANY OFFICE OF HONOR, TRUST, OR PROFIT UNDER THE UNITED STATES. .)

Bill summary: Sets forth four articles impeaching William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Article I: States that in his conduct while President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care (...show more) that the laws be faithfully executed, has willfully corrupted and manipulated the judicial process of the United States for his personal gain and exoneration, impeding the administration of justice, in that William Jefferson Clinton swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before a Federal grand jury of the United States. States that contrary to that oath, William Jefferson Clinton willfully provided perjurious, false and misleading testimony to the grand jury. Article II: States that in his conduct while President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has willfully corrupted and manipulated the judicial process of the United States for his personal gain and exoneration, impeding the administration of justice in that William Jefferson Clinton willfully provided perjurious, false and misleading testimony as part of a Federal civil rights action brought against him. Article III: States that in his conduct while President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, and has to that end engaged personally, and through his subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or scheme designed to delay, impede, cover up, and conceal the existence of evidence and testimony related to a Federal civil rights action brought against him in a duly instituted judicial proceeding. Article IV: States that using the powers and influence of the office of President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has engaged in conduct that resulted in misuse and abuse of his high office, impaired the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, and contravened the authority of the legislative branch and the truth seeking purpose of a coordinate investigative proceeding, in that, as President, William Jefferson Clinton refused and failed to respond to certain written requests for admission and willfully made perjurious, false, and misleading sworn statements in response to certain written requests for admission propounded to him as part of the impeachment inquiry authorized by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States. States that William Jefferson Clinton, in refusing and failing to respond and in making perjurious, false and misleading statements, assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives and exhibited contempt for the inquiry. States, with reference to each article of impeachment, that: (1) in so doing, William Jefferson Clinton has undermined the integrity of his office, has brought disrepute on the Presidency, has betrayed his trust as President, and has acted in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States; and (2) William Jefferson Clinton, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

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Bill titles: Impeaching William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov

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