U.S. Senate acquits President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial

When the American settlers landed in America, they were met by the native “Indians,” as they came to be known, and by well-documented means proceeded to systematically take over the Indian territories. “So the American government lied to the Indians for many, many years” comments British comedian Eddie Izzard on the ensuing history. “And then President Clinton lied about a relationship, and everyone was surprised!” However oversimplified, Izzard does make a valid point, that Clinton’s charges were more politically motivated than anything else.

On this day, February 12, in 1999, President Bill Clinton was acquitted of all charges in a Senate trial. He was accused of lying to the grand jury about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Clinton was just the second president to be tried for impeachment. In 1868, President Andrew Johnson had an impeachment trial on charges of unlawfully dismissing a cabinet member from a previous administration, in violation of the Tenure of Office Act on 1867. As with Clinton, a number of unstated political decisions motivated the vote: Johnson had earlier vetoed several Reconstruction bills, and his decision in the near future would determine whether the freed former slaves could vote or not. Like Clinton, he was acquitted of all charges in a Senate trial.