When Impeachment Became a Weapon - December 19, 1998

On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Richard Backus examines both Clinton's serious character failure of lying under oath as president and how the impeachment process itself became corrupted by partisan warfare. From his investigator's perspective and law enforcement background, he explores why perjury matters, questions whether the offense warrants impeachment, and examines how this moment transformed impeachment from a constitutional safeguard into a partisan weapon. This isn't about defending Clinton or attacking Republicans; it's about what we've lost: the ability to hold leaders accountable based on principle rather than partisan loyalty, and what that means for democracy.