The White House said Thursday the House case is based on political revenge, not law and that Clinton would not testify as some House prosecutors have suggested he should. Judiciary Committee chairman Henry Hyde, the lead prosecutor, said the House had impeached Clinton simply because he had violated his oath to tell the truth and uphold the laws of the nation. One week after the 100 senators were sworn in as jurors, Rehnquist banged the proceeding back to order. The prosecutors then were given the floor to make their case that Clinton's offenses were high crimes and misdemeanors requiring his removal from office. Rejecting White House arguments that the offenses did not meet the constitutional standards for removing a president, Sensenbrenner noted that the Founding Fathers explicitly considered bribery as an impeachable offense and that perjury carries an identical penalty under statutes.
Perjury is the twin brother of bribery.
The senators sat quietly at their polished wooden desks, barred by trial rules from speaking in the chamber where they ordinarily debate. A few House members were seated at the rear of the chamber, and the public galleries were full. The president's seven-member legal team, led by White House Counsel Charles F.C. Ruff, were seated a few feet to the side of the lectern where House Republicans made their case. In an impeachment drama dominated by partisan struggle, the two sides made an effort Thursday to display bipartisanship. Majority Leader Trent Lott and other Republicans shook hands with Ruff.