None Dare Call It Kafkaesque

Franz Kafka's classic novel The Trial (1925) is the surreal story of Joseph K., a man who is accused of nameless charges that can never be fully refuted and about which he can get no firm information. The Clinton White House seems to feel it is in a similar predicament.

The Trial

K. went on, "Though I am accused of something, I cannot recall the slightest offense that might be charged against me."

K. went on, "There can be no doubt that behind my arrest and today's interrogation, there is a great organization at work."

K. is told, "One must really leave the lawyers to do their work, instead of interfering with them."

Whitewater

"No one has accused me of any abuse of authority in office There is no credible evidence and no credible charge that I violated any criminal or civil federal law."

-- Bill Clinton, March 7, 1994

"((The Whitewater controversy)) is a well-organized and well-financed attempt to undermine my husband, and, by extension, myself."

| -- Hillary Clinton quoted in the May 1994 edition of Elle magazine

"Why don't you guys let the special counsel do his job?" -- Bill Clinton, to members of the press, March 21, 1994