What Happened to Impeachment of Bill Clinton?

The impeachment of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was a landmark event in American political history, rooted in a federal investigation that initially focused on the Whitewater real estate venture. Under the direction of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, the investigation expanded significantly to include allegations of President Clinton's personal conduct, particularly his extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The scandal gained national attention in January 1998 following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Paula Jones against Clinton. During a sworn deposition in this case, Clinton denied having a sexual relationship with Lewinsky. However, evidence, including secretly recorded audiotapes by Linda Tripp and a dress containing Clinton's DNA, contradicted his testimony. Kenneth Starr's subsequent report, delivered to Congress on September 9, 1998, detailed 11 possible impeachable offenses, primarily alleging perjury and obstruction of justice.

On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives voted to approve two articles of impeachment against President Clinton: one for lying under oath to a federal grand jury (228-206) and another for obstructing justice (221-212). Two other articles, perjury in the Jones case and abuse of power, were rejected. This made Clinton the second U.S. president in history to be impeached, following Andrew Johnson in 1868.

The impeachment trial in the Senate began on January 7, 1999, with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. Despite the House's vote, public opinion polls consistently showed high approval ratings for Clinton throughout the process, with many Americans viewing the impeachment as a partisan effort rather than a necessary removal from office. On February 12, 1999, the Senate acquitted Clinton on both articles of impeachment. The perjury charge failed with 45 votes for conviction and 55 against, while the obstruction of justice charge resulted in a 50-50 tie. Neither achieved the two-thirds majority (67 votes) required for conviction and removal from office.

In the aftermath, Clinton completed his second term in office, leaving with high approval ratings. The impeachment process highlighted deep partisan divisions and raised questions about the threshold for 'high crimes and misdemeanors.' Following his presidency, Bill Clinton has remained highly active in public life. He founded the William J. Clinton Foundation, focusing on global issues such as health, climate change, and economic empowerment. He has also been a prolific public speaker and author.

As of 2026, Bill Clinton continues his public engagements. He delivered the commencement address to the Clinton School of Public Service's Class of 2026 on May 2, 2026. His 80th birthday was celebrated at the Clinton Presidential Center on August 15, 2026, with free museum admission and family-friendly activities. Furthermore, President Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Dr. Chelsea Clinton are scheduled to convene the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative on September 22-23, 2026, in New York City, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to global problem-solving. Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel whose report led to the impeachment, passed away in September 2022.