Bill Clinton–Monica Lewinsky Affair

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The Bill Clinton–Monica Lewinsky affair was a significant political scandal that emerged in 1998. It involved a sexual relationship between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, which began in 1995 and lasted about 18 months. The affair became public after Lewinsky confided in Linda Tripp, who secretly recorded their conversations and passed them to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. Starr was investigating Clinton for other matters, including the Whitewater controversy, but expanded his probe to include the Lewinsky affair. The scandal led to Clinton's impeachment by the House of Representatives in December 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. However, he was acquitted by the Senate in February 1999, failing to meet the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. Clinton admitted to an "inappropriate relationship" with Lewinsky but denied perjury. The scandal marked a pivotal moment in U.S. political history, highlighting issues of personal conduct and legal accountability in public office. Despite the impeachment, Clinton completed his term as president.