February 2, 1999
Web posted at: 10:47 p.m. EST (0347 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 2) -- Monica Lewinsky testified for four hours Monday behind closed doors as the first witness in the Senate impeachment trial and heard a "statement of regret" from President Clinton's lawyer for all that she's been through.

Sources close to the deposition that took place around a conference table in a 10th floor suite of the Mayflower Hotel said she broke no new ground in her testimony, the first by any witness in a presidential impeachment trial in 130 years.

Clinton's attorneys had no questions for the former White House intern, whose sexual affair with the president is at the heart of the impeachment case, sources close to the deposition said, cutting short a session that could have run for as long as eight hours.

The sources said Clinton attorney Nicole Seligman read a written "statement of regret" to Lewinsky for the ordeal she has been through, which has included 23 separate appearances to testify about her relationship with Clinton.

Lewinsky, wearing a black suit with a pearl necklace, was poised as she gave business-like answers to House prosecutor Rep. Ed Bryant, (R-Tennessee), participants said. A senator from each party -- Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) and Patrick Leahy (D-Connecticut) -- also was present.

Sources close to the session said Lewinsky seemed to take care not to deviate from past testimony in any significant way, and apparently succeeded.

Byrd criticizes Clinton

On Capitol Hill, Clinton suffered a blow when a key Senate Democrat, Robert Byrd of West Virginia -- the man who sponsored an unsuccessful motion to dismiss the impeachment trial last week -- said "there's no question about his having given false testimony under oath" on more than one occasion.

In an interview with CNN, Byrd said Clinton's false testimony may not constitute perjury in the "strict legal sense," but: "For the chief executive to give false testimony under oath willingly, knowingly and intentionally and repeatedly, certainly to me gets awfully close to abusing and violating the public trust and trust in the judicial system."

Lewinsky's deposition ended shortly after 3 p.m. Videotapes and transcripts from the session were made available to senators at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 2, 1999

• Lewinsky testifies; offered 'regrets' from Clinton attorney
• Hyde says Lewinsky, Jordan depositions strengthen House case
• Senators worry about exonerating Clinton
• White House defends budget plan against strong GOP criticism
• Gephardt won't run for president
• Clinton orders damage assessment of alleged Chinese espionage
• DeLay criticized for '94 deposition
• GOP pondering 'fact-finding' option
• Amos Allard, father of senator, dies
• Gas tax money sparks highway fight
• Post office ends year with surplus
• Clinton proposes $10M bigotry study
• Bush's Hispanic support debated
• Clinton proclaims February Black History Month
• Tipper Gore debunks stigma of mental illness
• Arafat invited to prayer breakfast
• Who's giving what to candidates
• Brown confidant guilty in tax case
• Clinton denies he seeks to 'micromanage' US schools
• Governor, judge stop Florida from selling license photos

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