Following his impeachment by the House of Representatives on December 19, President Bill Clinton is facing a trial in the Senate that is likely to commence around January 6, 1999.

The Senate, comprising 55 Republican members and 45 Democrats, has the power to try the president and, upon conviction, remove him from office. Vice-President Al Gore would become president if this occurred.

The Christmas holiday period has seen much discussion amongst American politicians about how to proceed in the coming weeks. Very few people believe that there are 67 votes in the Senate needed to convict the president, although commentators acknowledge that very little about the Lewinsky matter has been predictable during 1998 and a Senate trial is fraught with uncertainty. [Read more…]