CLINTON OUTLOOK WORSENS.Byline: Raja Mishra Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder (IPA: /ˈrɪdɚ/) was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Newspapers A fourth and final article of impeachment impeachment, formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. calling for the removal of the president passed the House Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee may refer to:
Incoming House Speaker Bob Livingston This article is about the politician. For the Texas musician, see Bob Livingston (musician). Robert Linlithgow Livingston IV, better known as Bob Livingston (born April 30, 1943), is a Washington, D.C. of Louisiana CODE, OF LOUISIANA. In 1822, Peter Derbigny, Edward Livingston, and Moreau Lislet, were selected by the legislature to revise and amend the civil code, and to add to it such laws still in force as were not included therein. and current Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia said they would not permit a vote on censure - a written reprimand REPRIMAND, punishment. The censure which in some cases a public office pronounces against an offender. 2. This species of punishment is used by legislative bodies to punish their members or others who have been guilty of some impropriety of conduct towards them. favored by some Democrats and many in the public. That means lawmakers will face the stark choice between impeachment and letting Clinton off with no punishment. The House ``should not consider censure,'' Livingston wrote in letter sent to Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde of Illinois late Saturday. Committee Democrats spent half of Saturday pushing a harshly worded resolution censuring Clinton as their preferred alternative to impeachment. The resolution was defeated by the GOP-dominated committee, but Democrats had held out hope that such a stern censure - it said Clinton had ``egregiously failed'' to set high moral standards, for instance - would be given consideration on the House floor. Pro-impeachment Republicans had fervently opposed that idea, not because censure would necessarily have been approved by the full House but because it would have provided moderate GOP members a way to criticize the president without voting to remove him. And that likely would have deprived the impeachment effort of enough votes to pass. Now there is a distinct possibility that at least one of the four articles of impeachment Formal written allegations of the causes that warrant the criminal trial of a public official before a quasi-political court. In cases of Impeachment, involving the president, vice president, or other federal officers, the House of Representatives prepares the articles of will pass in the full House, triggering a Senate trial of the president, a momentous and disruptive proceeding that has occurred but once in U.S. history. The fourth article passed Saturday accuses Clinton of abuse of power for giving false information to Hyde, R-Ill., during the course of the impeachment investigation. It is thought to stand the least chance of passing, according to GOP vote-counters. Three other articles passed Friday, accusing Clinton of perjury perjury (pûr`jərē), in criminal law, the act of willfully and knowingly stating a falsehood under oath or under affirmation in judicial or administrative proceedings. before the grand jury investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair, perjury in his deposition in the Paula Jones case and obstruction of justice A criminal offense that involves interference, through words or actions, with the proper operations of a court or officers of the court. The integrity of the judicial system depends on the participants' acting honestly and without fear of reprisals. in both cases. The full House is scheduled to take up these four articles Thursday at 10 a.m. While the committee was wrapping up its work, Clinton landed in Israel for a three-day trip, during which he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He made no comment on the House committee's action. But at the White House, Gregory Craig, the president's special counsel, released a statement calling the Judiciary Committee's action unfair and partisan. ``While the goal of the partisan majority on the committee is to impeach To accuse; to charge a liability upon; to sue. To dispute, disparage, deny, or contradict; as in to impeach a judgment or decree, or impeach a witness; or as used in the rule that a jury cannot impeach its verdict. the president and remove him from office, the certain result will be to divide the country, gridlock Gridlock A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business. the government and defy the will of the people,'' Craig said. The mind of the committee Saturday was clearly on the censure battle. For weeks Hyde had said he would not allow a vote on censure, but days ago he relented. Democrats appealed to Livingston to do likewise. ``I am confident that the same sense of evenhandedness, balance and fair play that led you, Chairman Hyde, to make the censure debate in order here will also be employed by the leadership of the House so that the censure alternative will be available to the full House membership next week,'' said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., the author of the censure resolution. Hyde opposes that alternative and late Saturday sent Livingston a letter stating, ``It is my view that a resolution or amendment proposing censure of the president in lieu of impeachment violates the rules of the House, threatens the seTparation of powers, and fails to meet constitutional muster.'' Gingrich concurred in a letter to Hyde released late Saturday, stating, ``I plan to follow your advice with respect to this matter.'' Both Gingrich and Livingston said censure is both unconstitutional and against House rules. ``Censure of the president would violate the careful balance of separation of powers separation of powers: see Constitution of the United States. separation of powers Division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate and independent bodies. ,'' wrote Livingston. Boucher's defeated resolution, which Clinton would have had to sign if passed, stated in part that the president ``violated the trust of the American people'' and ``made false statements concerning his reprehensible rep·re·hen·si·ble adj. Deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy. See Synonyms at blameworthy. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin repreh conduct.'' The final article of impeachment adopted by the committee is considered perhaps the least significant of the four, but was one of the most inflammatory for Republicans. The article accuses Clinton of ``misuse and abuse'' of his office when he supplied answers to 81 Lewinsky-related questions sent to him by Hyde in November. Clinton essentially stood by his earlier testimony that he misled the courts and the country about his affair with Lewinsky but did not break any laws. His replies were judged evasive and legalistic le·gal·ism n. 1. Strict, literal adherence to the law or to a particular code, as of religion or morality. 2. A legal word, expression, or rule. by many outraged GOP members of the committee and caused a ripple among moderate Republicans. They felt the president's answers contradicted his public pose of contrition con·tri·tion n. Sincere remorse for wrongdoing; repentance. See Synonyms at penitence. Noun 1. contrition - sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation contriteness, attrition . Republicans cited 10 specific replies by Clinton that they consider impeachable im·peach·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being impeached: venal, impeachable public servants. 2. Being such as to warrant impeachment: an impeachable offense. offenses. Many of the moderates have said the president's replies led them to consider more seriously voting for impeachment. Some Democrats attacked these Republicans for straying from the factual case against Clinton. ``The American people may wake up and find that the Congress has impeached the president for not being contrite con·trite adj. 1. Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent. 2. Arising from or expressing contrition: contrite words. enough for some members of Congress,'' said Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. The Democrats did have a few small victories with the fourth article of impeachmentT, when Republicans agreed to drop three provisions that accused the president of lying to the American public, using his lawyers to shield himself from Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigators, and misleading his staff and Cabinet about his affair with Lewinsky. Finally, about 6:30 p.m., Hyde rapped his gavel gavel small mallet used by judge or presiding officer to signal order. [Western Culture: Misc.] See : Authority one last time, and the third-ever Judiciary Committee hearings on the impeachment of a president began their fade into history. IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AT A GLANCE Here are the four articles of impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee: ARTICLE 1: Approved 21-16 Alleges President Clinton ``willfully willfully adv. referring to doing something intentionally, purposefully and stubbornly. Examples: "He drove the car willfully into the crowd on the sidewalk." "She willfully left the dangerous substances on the property." (See: willful) provided perjurious, false and misleading testimony'' Aug. 17 before Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's grand jury. ARTICLE 2: Approved 20-17 Alleges Clinton ``willfully provided perjurious, false and misleading testimony'' in sworn, written answers Dec. 23, 1997, and during his videotaped testimony Jan. 17 in the sexual harassment sexual harassment, in law, verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, aimed at a particular person or group of people, especially in the workplace or in academic or other institutional settings, that is actionable, as in tort or under equal-opportunity statutes. lawsuit filed by Paula Jones. ARTICLE 3: Approved 21-16 Alleges Clinton ``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 the Jones case. The article lists seven alleged acts of obstruction of justice. ARTICLE 4: Approved 21-16 Alleges that Clinton ``engaged in conduct that resulted in misuse and abuse of his high office.'' It says he ``willfully made perjurious, false and misleading sworn statements'' in his written responses to some of the 81 questions posed by the Judiciary Committee. - Associated Press CAPTION(S): 3 Photos, 2 Boxes PHOTO (1) The House Judiciary Committee votes on the fourth article of the impeachment resolution against President Clinton on Saturday, adopting it on a party-line vote of 21-16. (2) Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, center, is sandwichedT by committee counsel Thomas Mooney, left, and Democratic counsel Julian Epstein at the hearing. Joe Marquette/Associated Press (3--Color) no caption (President Clinton) BOX: (1) IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AT A GLANCE (see text) (2) THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE HOLDS TO PARTY LINES The House Judiciary Committee has approved four articles of impeachment against President Clinton. The full House of Representatives now must vote on the articles. Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion