This Day in History | 1998 – Clinton denies affair with intern

President Clinton has strongly denied allegations that he had an affair with a 24-year-old former White House aide.

He also rejected accusations that he asked her to lie about the relationship on oath.

Mr Clinton has come under intense media pressure as rumors circulate that he conducted an 18-month affair with Monica Lewinsky in 1995.

Miss Lewinsky, who is currently in hiding, has made no public admission, although it is understood that she has admitted to the relationship on tape.

The president made his categoric denial at a White House news conference today.

With his fist clenched and his voice shaking, he said: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.

“I never told anybody to lie, not a single time, never.

“These allegations are false and I need to get back to work for the American people.”

Mr Clinton left the room without answering any questions.

First lady Hillary Clinton is said to be in “fighting mood” and has vowed to stand by her husband to save his political career.

The rumors of the affair first surfaced during an investigation into Mr Clinton by Independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr.

Mr Starr is understood to be keen for Miss Lewinsky to give evidence before the grand jury about the alleged affair.

But the former aide fears she will be prosecuted for perjury if she goes public about the affair as she has already denied it under sworn testimony in a separate sexual harassment case involving Paula Jones.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

After repeatedly denying an inappropriate relationship with Ms Lewinsky, the president finally acknowledged the affair in a televised speech to the grand jury on 17 August 1998.

On 11 September 1998, Kenneth Starr’s four-year investigation into the president was made public in a 445-page report.

As a direct result of the report, the House Judiciary Committee proposed four articles of impeachment against the president.

Bill Clinton became only the second president in American history to face such an indictment, but he refused to resign.

His trial began on 7 January 1999 and ended on 12 February when senators voted to acquit him of the impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.