Paula Corbin Jones's lawsuit alleging sexual harassment has been ongoing since 1994. These are the key events in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in May 1998.

May 9, 1991
Bill Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, allegedly asks a state trooper to summon Paula Jones, a low-level state employee to his room at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. According to Mrs Jones affidavit, he dropped his trousers and, alluding to his genitals, asked her to "kiss it".

May 6, 1994
Paula Jones files a formal complaint against President Clinton alleging sexual harassment and defamation of character.

June 10, 1994
State trooper Danny Ferguson says that he conducted Paula Jones to Mr Clinton's hotel room but disputes other key allegations against the president. He says that Mrs Jones had called Mr Clinton sexy, volunteered her phone number and offered to be his girlfriend.

President Clinton denies any wrongdoing

October 1, 1994
President Clinton offers to settle the lawsuit. He concedes that he may have met Mrs Jones in a hotel room and that he regretted "untrue assertions" made about her.

January 11, 1997
Mr Clinton's lawyers argue before the US Supreme Court that to allow the case to go forward while he is in office would undermine the institution of the presidency.

May 27, 1997
The US Supreme Court votes unanimously that Paula Jones should be allowed to proceed with her sexual harassment suit. The media hail the decision as one proving that the president is not above the law.

June 1, 1997
Mr Clinton's lawyer, Robert Bennett, offers $700,000 (£430,000) to settle the case out of court. He insists the president will not apologise or admit propositioning her in 1991.

July 3, 1997
In his first formal response to the lawsuit, Mr Clinton "adamantly" denies Paula Jones's allegations.

A new look is intended to increase her credibility

September 8, 1997
Paula Jones lawyers quit the case. Sources close to the team say they resigned after Mrs Jones turned down the $700,000 settlement because it did not include an apology.

September 14-15, 1997
The US tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service, decides to audit Paula Jones's income tax returns. The White House denies that the audit is politically motivated, calling the allegation "certifiably crazy".

October 7, 1997
President Clinton's attorney denies that the president has any sort of "distinguishing characteristics" on his penis that Paula Jones earlier described. Another lawyer in the case says he is prepared to turn the tables by investigating Mrs Jones's past sex life.

November 24, 1997
Paula Jones amends her lawsuit by dropping defamation of character as a claim. This puts her past sex life off limits.

January 11, 1998
Mrs Jones's lawyers present a settlement proposal in the area of $2 million.

January 17, 1998
Mr Clinton to give a video-taped deposition in the presence of Mrs Jones and both teams of lawyers. The tape could be used as evidence in court.

May 27, 1998
Paula Corbin Jones vs. William Jefferson Clinton to be heard in a US District Court in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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