February 4, 1999
Web posted at: 6:47 p.m. EDT (1847 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 4) -- In six decisive votes, the Senate agreed Thursday what the final week of President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial will look like: lawyerly arguments blended with potentially dramatic videotaped testimony from onetime presidential paramour Monica Lewinsky.

There will be final presentations by the prosecution and defense beginning at 10 a.m. EST Saturday, final arguments by both sides on Monday and then deliberations by the senators beginning Tuesday.

With the latest votes, the Senate looks firmly on track to decide the perjury and obstruction of justice charges against Clinton by Friday, February 12, its target date for finishing.

But as the Senate races toward ending the trial, two wild cards remain. One is the effect of Lewinsky's videotaped testimony, if not on the senators, on the American public. The other is whether Clinton will suffer some form of censure or "findings of fact" outlining his misdeeds.

Americans have heard Lewinsky's voice on the Linda Tripp tapes, but this will be the first time they have seen her talking about her illicit affair with the president.

How Americans react could shape what happens after the trial -- whether, for instance, the videotape stirs any new outrage when the public is reminded that their middle-aged president got sexually involved with a subordinate half his age right in the White House.

The other question is where discussions of a "findings of fact" or censure will go. Senators continue to look for a way to temper their expected acquittal of Clinton with a strong condemnation of his behavior.

On Saturday, the Senate's schedule calls for six hours of presentations -- three hours from each side -- detailing this week's depositions by Lewinsky, presidential friend Vernon Jordan and White House aide Sidney Blumenthal. Under the Senate's 62-38 vote Thursday, both sides will be permitted to use excerpts from the videotaped depositions in their presentations.

Reps. Ed Bryant (R-Tennessee), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Asa Hutchinson (R-Arkansas) and James Rogan (R-California) are expected to take the lead for the prosecution team.

After a day off Sunday, senators will reconvene at 1 p.m. EST Monday for final arguments by the White House lawyers and the House prosecutors.

The Senate begins its deliberations Tuesday behind closed doors, unless senators change the rules. The New York Times reported Wednesday that support was growing in the Senate to open the final deliberations to public view.

From Wednesday through Friday, the deliberations will continue, followed by an up or down vote on the two articles of impeachment.

One thing that won't happen is testimony from Clinton, in any form.

White House Counsel Charles Ruff formally responded Thursday to the latest invitation for Clinton himself to give a deposition, telling Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in a letter, "It is neither necessary nor appropriate for the president to testify."

Thursday, February 4, 1999

• Deposition videos to be played Saturday
• Lewinsky video could dominate trial's final week
• Roll call on Senate motions for handling witness depositions
• Transcript: Senate votes on handling of deposition videotapes
• Document: Letter from White House counsel Ruff to Sen. Lott
• Clinton prays for peace at annual breakfast
• 2000: Gore, Quayle in; Gephardt out
• Clintons decry magazine's feature on daughter
• Italian Carnaval roasts Clinton
• Former housing chief makes second try to dismiss case
• HMO legislation moving forward in Congress
• New Forbes theme gets mixed reviews
• Hyde's district split on Clinton
• GOP governors want Clinton trial over
• Clinton honors Thurgood Marshall
• Challenger slams Chicago's Daley
• First lady still mulling Senate run
• Clinton courts AARP on Medicare
• AOL, others form coalition to lobby for high-speed Internet, data lines
• Albright, Reno: Threat of terrorism against U.S. interests remains high

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