The Republican timetable adopted yesterday for the remaining weeks of the trial sets the stage for a vote on Clinton's guilt or innocence as soon as Feb. 12. It also left open the possibility of a separate vote to punish Clinton with a finding that he committed crimes without convicting and removing him from office. On a party-line vote, the GOP majority granted House prosecutors permission to videotape testimony from Lewinsky and two other witnesses next week and left open the possibility that the former White House intern could testify in the Senate, an option Democrats vigorously opposed. The question of whether the Senate will get to consider any further sanction on Clinton beyond votes on the impeachment articles colored debate over how to end the trial. But Democrats accused him of opening the door to a vote that they labeled a desperate last-ditch effort to tar Clinton.
Several factors fuel the desire to punish the president.
Many Republicans fear that their failure to convict Clinton will be seen as acquiescence to criminal activity in the White House. Many also fear that letting Clinton escape with an acquittal would anger their most conservative, anti-Clinton supporters. Many Democrats worry that acquittal would send a message to the country that they were indifferent to the president's deceptions. A plurality of Americans want Clinton to be punished. Public opinion polls show consistently that a majority of Americans want Clinton to be censured, but do not want him removed from office.