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Monica Lewinsky mocks lack of impeachment witnesses at Trump trial

'Too bad I had to give that videoed witness testimony for the senate trial in the Clinton impeachment'

Alex Woodward
New York
Friday 31 January 2020 15:44 EST
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Monica Lewinsky, who was forced to testify in Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings, mocked Republicans who blocked witnesses from Donald Trump's trial.
Monica Lewinsky, who was forced to testify in Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings, mocked Republicans who blocked witnesses from Donald Trump's trial. (Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

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As the Senate prepares to bring an end to Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Monica Lewinsky criticised a Republican Senator whose key swing vote could hinge on whether any witnesses will be introduced.

Among the most famous witnesses in a presidential impeachment trial following her affair with former president Bill Clinton, Ms Lewinsky's private life was heavily scrutinised and ridiculed, then entered into the public domain during a videotaped interview in which she contradicted Mr Clinton's sworn statement about his "sexual relations" with her, part of a probe led by prosecutor Ken Starr — who now is part of Mr Trump's defence team.

On Twitter, she wrote: "Gee, too bad i had to give that videoed witness testimony for the senate trial in the Clinton impeachment. (i mean, talk about unflattering lighting and having a bad hair day.)"

Ms Lewinsky also retweeted a comment from another account that denied a statement from Mr Alexander, who tweeted that "the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year's ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate".

She shared a tweet saying: "Actually it does that is the point."

In 1998, she was forced to testify in Mr Clinton's impeachment proceedings by Mr Starr and his right-wing allies targeting the then-president for perjury and obstruction of justice.

As part of Mr Trump's legal counsel, Mr Starr is now fighting against attempts to bring witness testimony to the Senate.

In his arguments to the Senate this week, Mr Starr faced a barrage of criticism for his claim that Mr Trump's trial has ushered in the "age of impeachment" despite Mr Starr's role in the hearings 20 years ago.

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