15.The President did not abuse his power by permitting White House
staff to comment on the investigation. The President has acknowledged
misleading his family, staff and the country about the nature of his
relationship with Ms. Lewinsky, and he has apologized and asked for
forgiveness. However, this personal failing does not constitute a
criminal abuse of power. If allowing aides to repeat misleading
statements is a crime, then any number of public officials are guilty
of misusing their office for as long as they fail to admit wrong doing
in response to any allegation about their activities.
16.The actions of White House attorneys were completely lawful. The
White House Counsel attorneys provided the President and White House
officials with informed, candid advice on issues raised during this
investigation that affected the President's official duties. This was
especially necessary given the fact that impeachment proceedings
against the President were a possible result of the OIC's investigation
from Day One. In fact, throughout the investigation, the OIC relied on
the White House Counsel's office for assistance in gathering
information and arranging interviews and grand jury appearances. The
Counsel's office's actions were well known to the OIC throughout the
investigation and no objection was ever voiced.
This means that the OIC report is left with nothing but the details of
a private sexual relationship, told in graphic details with the intent
to embarrass. Given the flimsy and unsubstantiated basis for the
accusations, there is a complete lack of any credible evidence to
initiate an impeachment inquiry concerning the President. And the
principal purpose of this investigation, and the OIC's report, is to
embarrass the President and titillate the public by producing a
document that is little more than an unreliable, one-sided account of
sexual behavior.
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