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.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Is the blue dress in the Smithsonian Museum or Bubba's Presidential Library / Bimbo Eruption Depository?

Clinton lied about chasing tail in the office.  By that standard, every male official in D.C. could be impeached.

Squeezing the Charmin at work has been verbotten since the 1991 Clarence Thomas Confirmation Hearings.  So, sayeth Human Resources.

[Fantom]

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.

You cast your pearls before swine.  Democraps are pure subhuman scum.. you think them better, is a fault of yours.

[Cyber Liberty]

Is the blue dress in the Smithsonian Museum or Bubba's Presidential Library / Bimbo Eruption Depository?

Clinton lied about chasing tail in the office.  By that standard, every male official in D.C. could be impeached.

Squeezing the Charmin at work has been verbotten since the 1991 Clarence Thomas Confirmation Hearings.  So, sayeth Human Resources.

My understanding is the blue dress is in a back room of the Smithsonian....

[Timber Rattler]

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

Well, even then, Johnson got railroaded by the Radical Republicans.  The actual charges against him stemmed from trying to fire Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, which was entirely his right as President, instead of his conciliatory policies in dealing with the former Confederate states.

https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/impeachment/impeachment-johnson.htm

[Timber Rattler]

You cast your pearls before swine.  Democraps are pure subhuman scum.. you think them better, is a fault of yours.

Whut?   

[Fantom]

Is the blue dress in the Smithsonian Museum or Bubba's Presidential Library / Bimbo Eruption Depository?

Clinton lied about chasing tail in the office.  By that standard, every male official in D.C. could be impeached.

Squeezing the Charmin at work has been verbotten since the 1991 Clarence Thomas Confirmation Hearings.  So, sayeth Human Resources.

I invoke the "One Grope Rule".. Otherwise known as the Slick Willie.... however, Slick was a rapist... put some ice on it. Not just "handsy" and used his position of power to use his "Little" Humidor as his personal cum dumptster.

[Fantom]

Whut?   

Of course you fail to understand.

 Lets do some remedial learning.

You do understand what " casting your pearls before swine"means.. do you not? So.. you seem to think that democraps have what you consider "honor". And by doing the "Romney" and not Impeaching Slick Willie... it would have kept democrap scum from ...WHUT?

End of this lesson..

 

[Timber Rattler]

Of course you fail to understand.

 

[Bigun]

Well, even then, Johnson got railroaded by the Radical Republicans.  The actual charges against him stemmed from trying to fire Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, which was entirely his right as President, instead of his conciliatory policies in dealing with the former Confederate states.

https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/impeachment/impeachment-johnson.htm

Exactly correct!

[Fantom]

LOL... 

[Cyber Liberty]

This sure has turned out to be a fun thread, as I knew it would!   

[Fantom]

This sure has turned out to be a fun thread, as I knew it would!   

I'm doin' my part! 

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm doin' my part! 

I've missed you, bricklayer....

[Fantom]

I've missed you, bricklayer....

Thanxs 

I never really left, I would read. I was part of the cast-out from FR as a Ted man. Reaganite Republican sent me this way. After voting for Trump in 16 after he destroyed the field.. including my man, he totally, and quickly, has won me over.. not that I agree 100%.

Anyways. ....I S'pect , there is a "re-calibration" here.. a disturbance in the farce... so's to speak.