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Republican Party (United States)

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott Calls for President Clinton to End "Stonewalling and Smear Tactics"

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senator Trent Lott, the Republican majority leader, has intensified pressure on President Clinton to be more forthcoming about the scandal surrounding his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Amidst criticism from fellow Republicans for his public comments on the matter, Lott urged Clinton to reveal the truth about the scandal, calling for him to "come forward" and tell the American people "what has happened in these cases, particularly the Lewinsky case."

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Trent Lott called on President Clinton to end "stonewalling and smear tactics" regarding the Monica Lewinsky scandal, urging him to "come forward" and reveal the truth.
  • Lott's comments, made during a CNN interview, were met with criticism from fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senator Fred Thompson, and conservative leader William Bennett.
  • The Senate Majority Leader stated that the Lewinsky episode has become a distraction hindering Clinton's ability to deal with important issues, such as Social Security and Iraq.
  • Lott provided few specifics on how Clinton has been affected by the scandal, but noted that the President has been talking to lawmakers less frequently than before.
  • A request to lift the gag order surrounding Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton was denied by a federal judge, who cited the media's "callous disregard" for the parties' right to a fair trial.

Statistics:

  • 3: The number of days that have passed since Lott first publicly commented on the Whitewater investigation, sparking criticism from fellow Republicans.
  • 1: The number of resolution alternatives Lott suggested for addressing the scandal, including censure, which he believes is a "lesser action" than impeachment.
  • 1: The number of federal judge involved in the decision to deny the request to lift the gag order.

Sources:

  • Associated Press, "Sen. Lott threatens censure of Clinton," April 19, 1998
  • CNN, "Evans and Novak" show, April 19, 1998
  • Reuters, "Judge Denies Lift on Clinton Gag Order," April 27, 1998

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