Clinton Impeachment - Chronology 1998 - AustralianPolitics.com

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January 4, 1998
Lewinsky drops off final gifts to the president at Currie’s home: a book entitled “The Presidents of the United States,” and a love note inspired by the movie “Titanic.”

January 5, 1998
Clinton returns a call from Lewinsky, who is worried about questions in the Jones case about the circumstances of her transfer from the White House. Clinton suggests that she could say that persons in Legislative Affairs had helped her obtain the Pentagon job. In what would be their last conversation, they also talk about what Lewinsky called “an embarrassing mushy note” that Lewinsky had sent Clinton. He says she shouldn’t send notes that suggest they were intimate. The same day Lewinsky turns down the U.N. job.

January 6, 1998
Lewinsky and Jordan discuss her affidavit. Jordan talks with president less than 30 minutes later.

January 7, 1998
Lewinsky signs an affidavit in the Jones case declaring she “never had a sexual relationship with the president.” Her lawyer does not, however, submit the affidavit yet. Lewinsky goes to Jordan’s office with it. Jordan calls White House three times.

Monica Lewinsky’s Affidavit in the Paula Jones case

January 8, 1998
Lewinsky interviews at MacAndrews & Forbes in New York. She tells Jordan the interview went poorly and he calls the chairman, Ronald Perelman. Jordan makes three calls to White House, including two to the counsel’s office.

January 9, 1998
Lewinsky interviews again with MacAndrews & Forbes, and with Revlon. She informally accepts a Revlon job. She calls Jordan with news. Jordan informs president, who responds: “Thank you very much.”

January 12, 1998
Tripp brings independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr the tapes of her conversations with Lewinsky. Lewinsky’s lawyer, Carter, faxes Jones’s team a copy of her statement denying a sexual affair with Clinton.

January 13, 1998
FBI agents equip Tripp with a hidden microphone and record her conversation with Lewinsky at the Pentagon City Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Clinton talks with Chief of Staff Erskine B. Bowles about a reference for Lewinsky, required by Revlon. Currie calls Lewinsky that day and tells her it had been “[taken] care of.”

January 14, 1998
Lewinsky gives Tripp a “talking points” paper about what to say in her Jones testimony.

Talking Points

January 15, 1998
Starr requests permission from the Justice Department to expand his authority so he can investigate Lewinsky allegations. Not knowing of these events, Lewinsky encourages Tripp not to disclose her relationship with Clinton and tells her others will tell the same story as she will under oath. When Tripp asks who, Lewinsky answers, “He will,” referring to Clinton.

January 16, 1998
A three-judge panel approves Attorney General Janet Reno’s request to expand Starr’s mandate. Starr’s deputies have Tripp lure Lewinsky into meeting again at the Ritz-Carlton. They intercept Lewinsky. FBI agents and U.S. attorneys question her. Michael Emmick, one of Starr’s assistants, tells Lewinsky she could be indicted for perjury, witness tampering and obstruction of justice, and should cooperate. An immunity deal is offered, but it runs out at midnight. Carter files Lewinsky’s affidavit with a motion to quash the Jones subpoena. William H. Ginsburg takes over from Carter as Lewinsky’s attorney.

Attorney-General Janet Reno’s Statement on Expansion of Starr’s Commission

January 17, 1998
Clinton is deposed in the Jones suit. He denies having “sexual relations” with Lewinsky under a definition provided by her lawyers, and says he can’t recall whether he was ever alone with her.

January 18, 1998
Clinton meets with Currie to compare her memory of his interactions with Lewinsky with his own.

January 19, 1998
Ginsburg seeks immunity for Lewinsky, but Starr’s office demands to know the content of her testimony before discussing any deal. Currie makes repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact Lewinsky.

January 20 or 21, 1998
Currie and Clinton met again to discuss his testimony about Lewinsky, according to Currie’s testimony.

January 21, 1998
The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and ABC News report on Starr’s Lewinsky investigation. In media interviews, Clinton denies a “sexual relationship” with Lewinsky and says he did not urge her to lie. Revlon withdraws its job offer.

Clinton

January 22, 1998
Vernon Jordan issues a statement on his involvement with Lewinsky.

Vernon Jordan’s Statement on the Lewinsky Matter

January 29, 1998
Judge Susan Webber Wright dismisses an application from the Office of the Independent Counsel in the Lewinsky matter.

Judge Susan Webber Wright’s Ruling in the Paula Jones Case

April 1, 1998
The Jones suit is dismissed by U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright.

Text of Judge Susan Webber Wright’s judgement

July 27, 1998
Lewinsky submits to a detailed proffer interview with Starr’s office. She then was questioned extensively over the next 15 days, by Starr’s office and the grand jury.

July 28, 1998
Starr grants Lewinsky immunity.

July 29, 1998
Clinton says he will testify, after being subpoenaed. Linda Tripp comments on her involvement with Lewinsky.

Linda Tripp’s remarks to the media following her Grand Jury testimony

August 3, 1998
Clinton is asked for a blood sample for DNA testing.

August 17, 1998
Clinton testifies in the grand jury. He acknowledged “inappropriate intimate contact” with Lewinsky, but insisted his January deposition in the Jones suit had been accurate. He refused to answer questions about the nature of his physical contact with Lewinsky. Following his testimony, Clinton made an Address to the Nation in which he admitted to his relationship with Lewinsky.

August 26, 1998
In Australia, “Monica Lewinsky” appeared at the Australian Football League’s Grand Final breakfast.

Gerry Connolly as Monica Lewinsky – with audio

August 28, 1998
Clinton delivers a speech at a ceremony in Oak Bluff, Massachusetts, on the 35th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

Clinton’s comments on forgiveness in Martin Luther King speech

September 3, 1998
Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman speaks out against Clinton’s conduct. Lieberman went on to become Al Gore’s vice-presidential running mate in the 2000 election.