WASHINGTON (AllPolitics Dec. 17, 1998) -- House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston said the new revelations about his past extramarital "indiscretions" won't drive him from his leadership role.

"To those who are investigating me or others of my colleagues, please understand that I will not be intimidated by these efforts," Livingston said in a written statement. "These efforts will not deter me from performing my sworn duty under the Constitution as a member of Congress."

Livingston

Livingston's statement claimed there were "individuals working together with the media" investigating his personal background to exploit during the impeachment proceedings.

The report of Livingston's sexual infidelity first appeared on the Web site of Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper. The story, written by reporter Jim VandeHei, said Livingston was called recently and told a story about his past would be coming out soon.

But while first published by Roll Call, sources close to Livingston blamed the revelations on Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt. In October, Flynt offered up to $1 million for information about the sexual affairs of political leaders.

Livingston's confession Thursday that he had been unfaithful to his wife drew first gasps, and then a standing ovation and declarations of support from Republicans at a closed-door caucus.

The sensational disclosure comes on the eve of the House's impeachment debate involving the sexual conduct of President Clinton.

The Republican congressman from Louisiana quickly tried to draw a distinction between Clinton's behavior and his own.

"I want to assure everyone that these indiscretions were not with employees on my staff, and I have never been asked to testify under oath about them," Livingston's statement said.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who will be Livingston's top deputy in the next Congress, was first to issue a formal statement of support for the speaker-to-be.

Armey said previous mudslinging did not distract the House, and this attempt will not prevent it "from executing its duty to protect and uphold the Constitution."

Armey referred to reports of long-ago marital infidelity that surfaced about House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde just before his panel's impeachment investigation began.

"Today, this nation is debating the weighty question of whether a nation of laws can be led by a president who breaks the law," Armey's statement on Thursday continued.

But another Republican lawmaker said he is concerned not just about the legal issue, but also about the moral issue.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of legalistic explanations pointing out that the president lied under oath," said Rep. Mark Sanford, R-South Carolina. "His (Livingston's) situation was not under oath. The bottom line, though, is that he still lied. He lied under a different oath, and that's the oath to his wife. So it's got to be taken seriously."

A key Democrat also believed Livingston's revelation will have an effect.

Rep. William Delahunt, D-Massachusetts, a member of the Judiciary Committee who voted against impeachment, said the disclosure by Livingston "denigrates the institution."

"I would imagine that tomorrow there will be turmoil and chaos on the floor of the House," he said. "Clearly, this is an announcement of significant proportions."

But some Republicans saw a big difference between the straying lawmaker and the wandering president.

"He's (Livingston's) telling the truth, and the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue couldn't tell the truth if he had a gun to his head," said Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio.

Livingston did not go into great detail about his sexual misbehavior.

Blitzer asks Livingston if he has any skeletons in his closet

"I have decided to inform my colleagues and constituents that during my 33-year marriage to my wife, Bonnie, I have on occasion strayed from my marriage, and doing so nearly cost me my marriage and my family," Livingston said in his statement.

Livingston was asked last month about any skeletons in his closet by CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"Look, I'm running for speaker of the House. I'm not running for sainthood," Livingston said. "I'm not looking to be canonized. I am just a regular guy."

In his statement Thursday, Livingston recalled those comments and said, "There was a reason for those words."

Livingston has refused to preside over the impeachment debate. And until last weekend, he appeared to have succeeded in lying low on the issue.

But his comments against a House vote on any resolution censuring Clinton -- he said such action would "violate the careful balance of separation of powers" -- landed Livingston in the middle of the debate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thursday, December 17, 1998

• Impeachment debate gets under way Friday
• House Republicans rally 'round Livingston
• Full text of Livingston statement
• Clinton denies Iraq attack was a diversion
• Impeachment and Iraq fill the president's time
• U.S. public gives Iraq attack mixed reviews
• Transcript: Clinton defends U.S. attack on Iraq
• House passes resolution in support of U.S. troops
• Poll: U.S. public endorses Clinton's actions on Iraq
• Poll: Clinton gets thumbs up from American public
• Hundreds head for Washington anti-impeachment vigil
• Gore rallies support for Clinton
• Livingston faces trial by fire
• Russia may ask Lewinsky for help

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