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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Timeline: The Clinton investigation ![]() ![]() The Monica Lewinsky scandal has been cited both as one of the darkest periods in US political history and conclusive proof that the rule of law reigns supreme in the United States. BBC News Online charts the twists and turns of the investigation of the president.
Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern, files a sworn affidavit in federal court denying she had a sexual relationship with the president. She allegedly asks her friend Linda Tripp to lie as well. (7 Jan) Linda Tripp wears a hidden microphone for the FBI and records conversations with Ms Lewinsky. (13 Jan) Prosecutors ask Ms Lewinsky to co-operate in their investigation. She refuses.(16 Jan)
The Lewinsky scandal spreads across the Internet after maverick reporter Matt Drudge reports that a Newsweek article detailing an alleged affair had been spiked.(18 Jan)
The first reports of the existence of secretly recorded conversations between Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp about the affair emerge in the Washington Post. (21 Jan)
In a White House news conference, the president denies having an affair with Ms Lewinsky. (26 Jan) Clinton angry at new sex claims
President Clinton vigorously denies a liaison with Ms Lewinsky and subsequent cover-up.
Former White House worker Kathleen Willey goes on television to accuse Bill Clinton of sexually fondling her in the Oval Office. (15 March)
Judge Susan Webber Wright dismisses Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against the president. (2 April) Clinton harassment suit dismissed on lack of evidence
Two of President Clinton's top aides are required to testify after a federal judge dismisses claims of executive privilege. (4 May)
Monica Lewinsky replaces her lawyer William Ginsburg with two prominent Washington lawyers, Jacob Stein and Plato Cacheris. The move follows a reported breakdown in relations between Mr Ginsburg and Kenneth Starr. (2 June)
The US Supreme Court refuses to intervene in Secret Service testimony, so guards testify. Prosecutors issue a historic subpoena ordering Clinton to testify in the investigation. (17 July)
Kenneth Starr reaches a deal with Ms Lewinsky giving her immunity in exchange for full and truthful testimony. She is reported to have told prosecutors that she did in fact have sex with the president. (28 July)
Monica Lewinsky testifies for six hours. Her spokeswoman says she answered questions "truthfully, completely and honestly". (6 Aug)
President Clinton told a grand jury and then the nation that he had a relationship with Monica Lewinsky that was "not appropriate". (17 Aug) Clinton confesses
Reacting to remarks from Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman, President Clinton apologises for his affair with Monica Lewinsky for the first time. (4 Sept)
Kenneth Starr sends 36 boxes of evidence on the Lewinsky scandal to the Congress, as President Clinton apologises for a second time, this time on national television. (9 Sept)
President Clinton braces himself for the highly critical report on his relationship with the former White House worker Monica Lewinsky to be made public. (10 Sept) Clinton report set to go online
Starr report published on the Internet. The 445-page document lists 11 grounds for impeachment and 10 sexual encounters between the president and Monica Lewinsky. (11 Sept)
As the battle heats up, President Clinton's lawyers issue a scathing line-by-line rebuttal, dismissing the Starr report as a "hit and run smear campaign". (12 Sept)
Salon magazine publishes a story about Chariman of the House Judiciary Henry Hyde's extramarital affair 30 years ago. Mr Hyde admits the affair but calls it an "attempt to intimidate him. (17 Sept)
Voting on sharply partisan lines, the House Judiciary Committee votes to release a four-hour video tape of Mr Clinton's Grand Jury testimony. (18 Sept)
America and the world are glued to the television as major television networks broadcast four hours and three minutes of video testimony. (21 Sept)
First reports show that the American public still supports Mr Clinton despite the release of his Grand Jury testimony. (22 Sept) Clinton not hurt by tapes No time limit for Clinton probe
The president vows not to resign and tells the Washington Post "every American has been broken by something in life". (28 Sept)
Thousands of pages of new evidence about the president's affair with Monica Lewinsky are released, but there are no major new revelations. (2 Oct)
Democrats want the presidential impeachment inquiry to be limited in scope and length - a call rejected by Republicans. (2 Oct)
Henry Hyde announces that the impeachment inquiry will be given a tighter focus in order for its investigation to be completed by the self-imposed year-end deadline. (15 Oct)
In a surprise victory, Democrats gain seats in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections. Both parties say the result was due - at least in part - to the Republicans' focus on the scandal. (3 Nov) Surprise gains for Democrats BBC News Online special mid-term election coverage
Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich resigns after taking much of the blame for the party's unexpectedly lacklustre performance in the elections. (7 Nov)
President Clinton pays $850,000 to Paula Jones in an out-of-court settlement of her sexual harassment case. (14 Nov)
Congress releases the secret recordings of Monica Lewinsky telling all to Linda Tripp. (17 Nov)
The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee proposes four articles of impeachment against President Clinton. (9 Dec) Impeachment charges set out
Democrats and Republicans clash bitterly in an historic debate on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. (18 Dec)
In a historic vote, Mr Clinton becomes the first (19 Dec)
Clinton rules out resignation (20 Dec)
Impeachment trial gets under way with disagreement on how to proceed beyond the formal opening (7 Jan) Sombre start to Clinton trial Senate split over trial
House of Representatives prosecutors open their case against President Clinton, charging he repeatedly put himself above the law and betrayed his oath of office in trying to hide his affair with Monica Lewinsky. (14 Jan)
Prosecutors and defence lawyers make motions to present witnesses or hear evidence and dismiss the case. (25 Jan)
Senators debate and vote on motions. (29 Jan)
Witnesses are deposed and videotaped testimony is taken. Both sides make closing arguments by each side. (2 Feb)
After three days of deliberation, senators vote to acquit President Clinton of the impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. (12 Feb)
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