Gingrich: Clinton Impeachment Over Lewinsky Scandal 'Was a Mistake'

[mystery-ak]

Gingrich: Clinton Impeachment Over Lewinsky Scandal 'Was a Mistake'
By Brian Freeman    |   Wednesday, 27 May 2026 09:12 AM EDT

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal was "a mistake," arguing in an interview with the New York Post's "Pod Force One" that the proceedings became overly focused on sex instead of allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Gingrich, who led House Republicans during Clinton's 1998 impeachment battle, explained that "I think it was a mistake because the real problem wasn't Lewinsky," when asked whether impeaching Clinton over the scandal had been the wrong decision. "The real problem was he had committed perjury in a case involving sexual harassment while he was governor."

Gingrich said the impeachment effort was undermined, because it became publicly associated with Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky rather than the broader legal issues surrounding sworn testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit.

"In fact, he was stripped of his law license in Arkansas after he left the presidency, and for five years couldn't practice because he clearly committed a felony," Gingrich said.

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https://www.newsmax.com/politics/newt-gingrich-bill-clinton-impeachment/2026/05/27/id/1257639/

[Timber Rattler]

I agree but for different reasons.  It lowered the bar significantly on impeachable offenses, started a vicious cycle of retaliation that poisoned the country's political system, and opened a huge can of worms that are still wriggling all over the place.  The Republicans should have just left Clinton alone and let him finish out his second term, with only a year or so to go before the 2000 election, which helped Gore more than it did Bush.

[BobfromWB]

There was a room filled with material that proved Clinton had given the Chinese every military secret he could lay his hands on for campaign cash. Not one Senator of Represenative looked at any of it.

Instead we got the Blue Dress. Even now Gingrich lies.

[Cyber Liberty]

I agree but for different reasons.  It lowered the bar significantly on impeachable offenses, started a vicious cycle of retaliation that poisoned the country's political system, and opened a huge can of worms that are still wriggling all over the place.  The Republicans should have just left Clinton alone and let him finish out his second term, with only a year or so to go before the 2000 election, which helped Gore more than it did Bush.

It wasn't a "moral mistake" as much as it was a tactical one.  That it failed to get a conviction was not the least bit surprising given the behavior of the Democrat Senators.  Can you name one person who thought 2/3rds of the Senate was ever going to convict?

And the downstream ill effects as you describe them were equally predictable.  Now, Impeachment by the House is no different than a "Vote of No Confidence" in the UK Parliamentary system, and can be expected every time an opposition Party gets a majority in Congress.  Right now it's just Dems who do it, but the GOP will be doing the same thing when the next Rat becomes President.

[Bigun]

There was a room filled with material that proved Clinton had given the Chinese every military secret he could lay his hands on for campaign cash. Not one Senator of Represenative looked at any of it.

Instead we got the Blue Dress. Even now Gingrich lies.

 

Very much like the 2020 presidential election.

[Bigun]

It wasn't a "moral mistake" as much as it was a tactical one.  That it failed to get a conviction was not the least bit surprising given the behavior of the Democrat Senators.  Can you name one person who thought 2/3rds of the Senate was ever going to convict?

And the downstream ill effects as you describe them were equally predictable.  Now, Impeachment by the House is no different than a "Vote of No Confidence" in the UK Parliamentary system, and can be expected every time an opposition Party gets a majority in Congress.  Right now it's just Dems who do it, but the GOP will be doing the same thing when the next Rat becomes President.

If you are saying that impeachments should be predicated on whether or not the senate will convict, I VERY MUCH disagree. If you are saying impeaching for wrong reasons, I agree.

[Cyber Liberty]

If you are saying that impeachments should be predicated on whether or not the senate will convict, I VERY MUCH disagree. If you are saying impeaching for wrong reasons, I agree.

There hasn't been an Impeachment for the "right reasons" since Andrew Johnson.

[Bigun]

There hasn't been an Impeachment for the "right reasons" since Andrew Johnson.

What was the "right" reason for Andrew Johnson's impeachment? Inquiring minds want to know. And you are wrong. There have been several, including one Alcee Hastings.

List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives

[Cyber Liberty]

What was the "right" reason for Andrew Johnson's impeachment? Inquiring minds want to know. And you are wrong. There have been several, including one Alcee Hastings.

List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives

Hastings is a good example, I was limiting myself to Presidential examples.  It's noteworthy Hastings went on to become a multiple term Congressman, so his Impeachment for corruption failed to cleanse the body politic of his filth.