Clinton will not seek pardon

President Clinton ponders a question from the editors

President Clinton has said he will not ask for a pardon to avoid prosecution in the Monica Lewinsky investigation or any other scandal when he leaves office.

"I don't have any interest in that," Mr Clinton told the American Society of Newspaper Editors on Thursday.

"I don't want one and I am prepared to stand before any bar of justice I have to stand before."

The House of Representatives impeached the president on perjury and obstruction of justice charges in 1998, but the Senate declined to have him removed from office last year.

Monica Lewinsky: Affair with the president

President Clinton said he was "deeply regretful" of the sex scandal that almost cost him his presidency, but added: "I'm glad I didn't quit and I'm glad we fought it."

The president still faces a continuing investigation by independent counsel Robert Ray, who has said he has hired additional prosecutors and is considering whether to indict Mr Clinton after he leaves office in January 2001.

There has since been speculation that Vice-President Al Gore, if he were elected president, would pardon his predecessor.

Mr Ray took over last year from Kenneth Starr, who pursued Mr Clinton over his relationship with Ms Lewinsky as part of a five-year, $50m investigation, which began with Mr Clinton and his wife Hillary's Whitewater property dealings.