Editing Bill Clinton (section)

===Second term (1997–2001)===
[[File:G8 Summit 1997 Family photo (cropped).jpg|thumb|250px|Clinton (center) with other world leaders attending the first [[G8 Summit]], 1997]]
In the January 1997, State of the Union address, Clinton proposed a new initiative to provide health coverage to up to five million children. Senators [[Ted Kennedy]]—a Democrat—and [[Orrin Hatch]]—a Republican—teamed up with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her staff in 1997, and succeeded in passing legislation forming the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] (SCHIP), the largest (successful) health care reform in the years of the Clinton Presidency. That year, Hillary Clinton shepherded through Congress the [[Adoption and Safe Families Act]] and two years later she succeeded in helping pass the [[Foster Care Independence Act]]. Bill Clinton negotiated the passage of the [[Balanced Budget Act of 1997]] by the Republican Congress.

In October 1997, Clinton announced he was getting hearing aids, due to hearing loss attributed to his age, and his time spent as a musician in his youth.<ref>{{cite news | last=Shogren | first=Elizabeth | title=Clinton to Get Hearing Aids for Both Ears | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-04-mn-39089-story.html | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=October 4, 1997 | access-date=February 22, 2020}}</ref> In 1999, he signed into law the Financial Services Modernization Act also known as the [[Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act]], which repealed the part of the [[Glass–Steagall Act]] that had prohibited a bank from offering a full range of [[Investment banking|investment]], [[commercial bank]]ing, and insurance services since its enactment in 1933.<ref>{{cite news | title=Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 | url=https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/gramm_leach_bliley_act | publisher=Federal Reserve History | access-date=February 22, 2020 }}</ref>

==== Investigations ====
In November 1993, [[David Hale (Whitewater)|David Hale]]—the source of criminal allegations against Bill Clinton in the Whitewater controversy—alleged that while Governor of Arkansas, Clinton pressured Hale to provide an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, the Clintons' partner in the Whitewater land deal.<ref name="salon031798">{{cite news |last1=Broder |first1=Jonathan |last2=Waas |first2=Murray |author2-link=Murray Waas |date=March 17, 1998 |title=The Road To Hale |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |url=http://www.salon.com/news/1998/03/cov_17news.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616194202/http://salon.com/news/1998/03/cov_17news.html |archive-date=June 16, 2006}}</ref> A [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] investigation resulted in convictions against the McDougals for their role in the Whitewater project, but the Clintons themselves were never charged, and Clinton maintains his and his wife's innocence in the affair.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Washingtonpost.com: Caught in the Whitewater Quagmire |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/whitewater/stories/wwtr950828.htm |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Investigations by [[Robert B. Fiske]] and [[Ken Starr]] found insufficient to evidence to prosecute the Clintons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 2002 |title='Insufficient Evidence' Ends Whitewater Case |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-21-mn-33965-story.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Washingtonpost.com: Whitewater Special Report |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/whitewater112098.htm |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

The [[White House FBI files controversy]] of June 1996 arose concerning improper access by the White House to [[FBI]] security-clearance documents. Craig Livingstone, head of the White House Office of Personnel Security, improperly requested, and received from the FBI, background report files without asking permission of the subject individuals; many of these were employees of former Republican administrations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ray |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Ray (prosecutor) |date=March 16, 2000 |title=Final Report of the Independent Counsel&nbsp;... of the Investigation In Re: Anthony Marceca |url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/icreport/marceca/sec1-2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/icreport/marceca/sec1-2.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]]}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> In March 2000, Independent Counsel [[Robert Ray (prosecutor)|Robert Ray]] determined there was no credible evidence of any crime. Ray's report further stated, "there was no substantial and credible evidence that any senior White House official was involved" in seeking the files.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 28, 2000 |title=Independent counsel: No evidence to warrant prosecution against first lady in 'filegate' |work=CNN|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate |url-status=dead |access-date=April 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529015957/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate/ |archive-date=May 29, 2010}}</ref>

On May 19, 1993, Clinton fired seven employees of the White House Travel Office. This caused the [[White House travel office controversy]] even though the travel office staff served at the pleasure of the president and could be [[At-will employment|dismissed without cause]]. The White House responded to the controversy by claiming that the firings were done in response to financial improprieties that had been revealed by a brief FBI investigation.<ref>{{cite book |last=Clinton |first=Hillary |title=Living History |title-link=Living History (book) |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7432-2224-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/livinghistory00clin/page/n189 172] |author-link=Hillary Clinton}}</ref> Critics contended that the firings had been done to allow friends of the Clintons to take over the travel business and the involvement of the FBI was unwarranted.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gormley |first=Ken |url=https://archive.org/details/deathofamericanv00gorm/page/70 |title=The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr |publisher=[[Crown Publishers]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-307-40944-7 |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/deathofamericanv00gorm/page/70 70–71] |author-link=Ken Gormley (academic)}}</ref> The House Government Reform and Oversight Committee issued a report which accused the Clinton administration of having obstructed their efforts to investigate the affair.<ref name="cnn_com">{{Cite web |title=AllPolitics - Travelgate Report OK'd - Sept. 18, 1996 |url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9609/18/travelgate/index.shtml |access-date=October 23, 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref> Special counsel Robert Fiske said that Hillary Clinton was involved in the firing and gave "factually false" testimony to the GAO, congress, and the independent counsel. However Fiske said there was not enough evidence to prosecute.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2007 |title=III. Findings |url=http://a255.g.akamaitech.net/7/255/2422/13may20041504/icreport.access.gpo.gov/watkins/13-17.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628181404/http://a255.g.akamaitech.net/7/255/2422/13may20041504/icreport.access.gpo.gov/watkins/13-17.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="cnn_com" />

====Impeachment and acquittal====

{{Main|Impeachment of Bill Clinton|Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton}}
[[File:Senate in session.jpg|thumb|Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999]]

After [[Impeachment inquiry against Bill Clinton|a House inquiry]], Clinton was [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeached]] on December 19, 1998, by the House of Representatives. The House voted 228–206 to impeach him for perjury to a [[grand jury]]<ref name=ai>{{cite web | author = Miller, Lorraine C. | title = Final vote results for roll call 543 | publisher = Office of the Clerk | date = December 19, 1998 | url = http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll543.xml | access-date = April 20, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106230404/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll543.xml | archive-date = January 6, 2010 | url-status = live }}</ref> and voted 221–212 to impeach him for obstruction of justice.<ref name=aiii>{{cite web | author = Miller, Lorraine C. | title = Final vote results for roll call 545 | publisher = Office of the Clerk | date = December 19, 1998 | url = http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll545.xml | access-date = April 20, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100302015416/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll545.xml | archive-date = March 2, 2010 | url-status = live }}</ref> Clinton was only the second U.S. president (the first being [[Andrew Johnson]]) to be impeached.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-have-presidents-been-impeached-for-these-were-the-articles-of-impeachment-johnson-nixon-and-clinton/|title=What have presidents been impeached for? These were the articles of impeachment for Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton|agency=CBS News|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> Impeachment proceedings were based on allegations that Clinton had illegally lied about and covered up his relationship with 22-year-old White House (and later [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]) employee [[Monica Lewinsky]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Time Line | date=September 13, 1998 | page=A32 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/timeline.htm | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date=January 20, 2007}}</ref> After the [[Starr Report]] was submitted to the House providing what it termed "substantial and credible information that President Clinton Committed Acts that May Constitute Grounds for an Impeachment",<ref>{{cite book | title=The Starr Report: The Findings of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr on President Clinton and the Lewinsky Affair | year=1998 | isbn=978-1-891620-24-9 | url=https://archive.org/details/starrreportfindi00star }}</ref> the House began impeachment hearings against Clinton before the [[United States midterm election|mid-term elections]]. To hold impeachment proceedings, Republican leadership called a [[lame-duck session]] in December 1998.

[[File:Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.jpg|thumb|Clinton in 2000 at [[Trump Tower]], shaking hands with future 45th and 47th president [[Donald Trump]]]]
While the [[House Judiciary Committee]] hearings ended in a straight party-line vote, there was lively debate on the House floor. The two charges passed in the House (largely with Republican support, but with a handful of Democratic votes as well) were for perjury and obstruction of justice. The perjury charge arose from Clinton's testimony before a grand jury that had been convened to investigate perjury he may have committed in his sworn deposition during ''[[Clinton v. Jones|Jones v. Clinton]],'' Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/pjones.htm | title=Case Closed | first=Dan | last=Froomkin | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=August 26, 1999 | access-date=August 30, 2011}}</ref> The obstruction charge was based on his actions to conceal his relationship with Lewinsky before and after that deposition.

The Senate later acquitted Clinton of both charges.<ref name=senvoteai>{{cite web | author=Senate LIS | title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 106th Congress—1st Session: vote number 17—Guilty or Not Guilty (Art I, Articles of Impeachment v. President W. J. Clinton) | publisher=United States Senate | date=February 12, 1999 | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00017 |access-date =February 22, 2020}}</ref> The Senate refused to meet to hold an impeachment trial before the end of the old term, so the trial was held over until the next Congress. Clinton was represented by Washington law firm [[Williams & Connolly]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Clinton impeached | work=BBC News | date=December 19, 1998 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/clinton_under_fire/latest_news/238784.stm | access-date=October 29, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211142909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/clinton_under_fire/latest_news/238784.stm | archive-date=December 11, 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref> The Senate finished a twenty-one-day trial on February 12, 1999, with the vote of 55 not guilty/45 guilty on the perjury charge<ref name=senvoteai /> and 50 not guilty/50 guilty on the obstruction of justice charge.<ref name="washingtonpostimpeachment">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-impeachment/senate-acquits-president-clinton/ | title=The Senate Acquits President Clinton | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=February 13, 1999 | access-date=February 22, 2020}}</ref> Both votes fell short of the constitutional two-thirds majority requirement to convict and remove an officeholder. The final vote was generally along party lines, with no Democrats voting guilty, and only a handful of Republicans voting not guilty.<ref name=senvoteai />

On January 19, 2001, Clinton's law license was suspended for five years after he acknowledged to an Arkansas circuit court he had engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in the ''Jones'' case.<ref name="arkcomm">{{cite court |litigants=Neal v. Clinton |opinion=Civ. No. 2000-5677 |pinpoint=Agreed Order of Discipline |court=Ark. Cir. Ct. |year=2001  |quote=Mr. Clinton admits and acknowledges&nbsp;... that his discovery responses interfered with the conduct of the ''Jones'' case by causing the court and counsel for the parties to expend unnecessary time, effort, and resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214725/https://www.arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/opc_opinions_59 |url=https://www.arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/opc_opinions_59 }}</ref><ref name="wsj01plea">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB980120797221261327|title=Bill cops a plea|author=<!--No by-line.-->|date=January 22, 2001|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> On October 1, the U.S. Supreme Court suspended Clinton from practicing law in the high court, citing fallout from the Lewinsky scandal,<ref>Kirkland, Michael (October 1, 2001). [https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/10/01/Clinton-suspended-from-Supreme-Court-bar/1801001908800/ Clinton suspended from Supreme Court bar]. ''[[United Press International]]''. Retrieved December 5, 2024.</ref> but rather than appealing the decision he resigned from the bar entirely.<ref>[https://www.deseret.com/2001/11/10/19615934/clinton-resigns-from-the-bar-of-supreme-court/ Clinton resigns from the bar of Supreme Court]. ''[[Deseret News]]''. November 10, 2001. Retrieved December 5, 2024.</ref>

====Pardons and commutations ====

Clinton [[Bill Clinton pardon controversy|issued]] 141 pardons and 36 commutations on his last day in office on January 20, 2001.<ref name="The Survivor" /><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010120/aponline135239_000.htm | title=Clinton Pardon's List | agency=[[Associated Press]] | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=January 20, 2001 | access-date=August 30, 2011 | archive-date=January 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115053709/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010120/aponline135239_000.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> Controversy surrounded [[Marc Rich]] and allegations that Hillary Clinton's brother, [[Hugh Edwin Rodham|Hugh Rodham]], accepted payments in return for influencing the president's decision-making regarding the pardons.<ref>{{cite news | title=Clinton pardons: Cast of characters | work=BBC News | date=February 22, 2001 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1184118.stm | access-date=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Federal prosecutor [[Mary Jo White]] was appointed to investigate the pardon of Rich. She was later replaced by then-Republican [[James Comey]]. The investigation found no wrongdoing on Clinton's part.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/james-comey-fbi-bill-clinton-233808|title = Comey 'enthusiastic' about Bill Clinton probe in 2001, FBI memo says|newspaper = [[Politico]]}}</ref> Clinton also pardoned four defendants in the [[Whitewater Scandal]], [[Chris Wade (real estate broker)|Chris Wade]], [[Susan McDougal]], [[Stephen Smith (Whitewater)|Stephen Smith]], and [[Robert W. Palmer]], all of whom had ties to Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Clinton Pardons McDougal, Hearst, Others|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122001&page=1|access-date=August 11, 2021|agency=ABC News}}</ref> Former Clinton [[HUD Secretary]] [[Henry Cisneros]], who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, was also among Clinton's pardons.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stout|first=David|date=January 20, 2001|title=Clinton Pardons McDougal, Cisneros|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/20/politics/clinton-pardons-mcdougal-cisneros.html|access-date=August 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== Campaign finance controversies ====
{{Further|Lincoln Bedroom for contributors controversy|1996 United States campaign finance controversy}}
In February 1997 it was discovered upon documents being released by the [[Clinton Administration]] that 938 people had stayed at the White House and that 821 of them had made donations to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and got the opportunity to stay in the Lincoln bedroom as a result of the donations.<ref>{{Cite news|title=AllPolitics - White House Sleepovers - Feb. 25, 1997|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/02/25/clinton.money/|access-date=August 9, 2021|agency=CNN}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{Cite news|title=President Had Big Role in Setting Donor Perks|date=February 26, 1997|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|first2=Susan|last2=Schmidt|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/lincoln.htm|access-date=August 9, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Some donors included [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Tom Hanks]], [[Jane Fonda]], and [[Judy Collins]]. Top donors also got golf games and morning jogs with Clinton as a result of the contributions.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> [[Janet Reno]] was called on to investigate the matter by [[Trent Lott]], but she refused.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AllPolitics - Reno Resisting Pressure - Feb. 27, 1997|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/02/27/fundraising/|access-date=August 9, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref>

In 1996,&nbsp;it was found that several Chinese foreigners made contributions to Clinton's reelection campaign and the [[Democratic National Committee]] with the backing of the People's Republic of China. Some of them also attempted to donate to Clinton's defense fund.<ref>{{Cite news|title=washingtonpost.com: Campaign Finance Key Player – Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/players/trie.htm|access-date=August 9, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> This violated United States law forbidding non-American citizens from making campaign contributions. Clinton and [[Al Gore]] also allegedly met with the foreign donors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AllPolitics - Fund-Raising Flap - Cast of Characters|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/gen/resources/infocus/fundraising.flap/characters.html|access-date=August 9, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 24, 2008|title=Chinese Aerospace Official Denies Giving To Democrats - May 21, 1998|website=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/21/china.money/|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524033516/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/21/china.money/|archive-date=May 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=August 5, 2006|title=Fund-raiser Charlie Trie pleads guilty under plea agreement - May 21, 1999|website=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/21/trie/|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805092557/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/21/trie/|archive-date=August 5, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 23, 2009|title=AllPolitics - A Chinese Spy? - May 12, 1997|website=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/05/12/chinese.donor/|access-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423050727/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/05/12/chinese.donor/|archive-date=April 23, 2009}}</ref> A Republican investigation led by [[Fred Thompson]] found that Clinton was targeted by the Chinese government. However, Democratic senators [[Joe Lieberman]] and [[John Glenn]] said that the evidence showed that China only targeted congressional elections and not presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Washingtonpost.com: Campaign Finance Special Report|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/cf072097.htm|access-date=August 9, 2021|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>