The aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal has created a climate where once hidden incidents of sexual harassment and assault are coming to light. Accusations have been made against powerful figures in Hollywood, business, journalism, and now even the White House.
Media attention about Donald Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct has some people talking about former president Bill Clinton and accusations brought against him. However, one of those relationships was consensual. It is the relationship between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Hillary Clinton didn’t speak much about the affair between her husband and Lewinsky, but later on in her memoir and in documents released by a close friend of hers, we get a peek into how she was really feeling about the scandal.
How it all started
In June 1995, Monica Lewinsky began working as an intern in the office of Chief of Staff Leon Panetta. By November of that year, Lewinsky and Clinton started a sexual relationship, reports CNN. Clinton and Lewinsky often met in the Oval Office for secret meetings. The Washington Post reports they had several sexual encounters in his office. Lewinsky is quoted in Kenneth Star’s report that she would gain entrance to the former president’s office under the pretense of delivering paperwork.
The secret is out
Lewinsky got a little too comfortable with fellow White House colleague Linda Tripp. During their conversations, Lewinsky told Tripp about her affair with Clinton. However, Tripp didn’t plan on keeping those confessions to herself. Instead, Tripp began secretly recording their conversations and eventually shared her knowledge of the affair with Newsweek reporters. She then delivered the taped conversations to her lawyer. Eventually, an investigation ensues.
Other women
Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky didn’t come as a total surprise to some. Clinton had been accused of behaving inappropriately with other women in the past. Among them is Juanita Broaddrick, who accused Clinton of raping her almost 20 years ago. Another high-profile accuser is Paula Jones, to whom Clinton agreed to pay $850,000 in exchange for her dropping a sexual harassment suit.
A presidency under fire
Bill Clinton did not emerge from the scandal completely unscathed. He was impeached on December 19, 1998. The House of Representatives charged him with perjury and obstruction of justice. He was the second president in American history to be impeached. However, Clinton remained in office and finished his term. On February 12, 1999, Clinton was acquitted on both articles of impeachment.
Hillary’s painful reaction
Although Newsweek delayed running the story about Lewinsky and Clinton, a gossip site and several news organizations caught wind of the scandal. Bill Clinton denied the reports. However, the investigation did find evidence of an affair. Hillary was quoted as saying Lewinsky is “a narcissistic loony toon,” in documents written by close friend Diane Blair. Blair (who died in 2000) also said Hillary told her the former president unsuccessfully tried to end the affair.
In Hillary’s memoir, Living History, she wrote about the pain she felt after finding out about her husband’s indiscretion. Clinton said she was “dumbfounded, heartbroken and outraged,” after the former president confessed. “Gulping for air, I started crying and yelling at him. What do you mean? What are you saying? Why did you lie to me?” recalled Hillary in her book.
People are still talking about the affair
Nearly two decades later, the affair between Clinton and Lewinsky is still a hot topic. In response to a question about whether the former president should have resigned after the affair was made public, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Yes, I think that is the appropriate response,” reports The New York Times.
Monica today
Lewinsky said she felt shamed as a result of the harsh media attention. She told Vanity Fair she even contemplated suicide in 1998 during the height of the scandal. Lewinsky said she was humiliated and made a scapegoat.
Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any ‘abuse’ came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position … The Clinton administration, the special prosecutor’s minions, the political operatives on both sides of the aisle, and the media were able to brand me. And that brand stuck, in part because it was imbued with power.
Lewinsky tried her best to go back to a normal life and pick up the pieces. She started a handbag line, went back to school for a master’s degree in social psychology, and made a few television appearances. After spending almost 10 years out of the spotlight, she is now an anti-bullying advocate.
No comments:
Post a Comment