Failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said the affair her husband, Bill Clinton, had with White House intern Monica Lewinsky years ago wasn’t an abuse of power — because the then-22-year-old Lewinsky was an adult.
She made these stunning comments in an interview on “CBS Sunday,” as Deadline and other outlets reported.
In the 1990s Hillary Clinton stood by her husband, then-President Bill Clinton, as he denied allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
CBS correspondent Tony Dokoupil asked Clinton, “What role, if any, did you play in criticizing the character of the women who have accused Bill of sexual misconduct?”
“None, none, no role,” she responded emphatically.
And then, following that up with a rote statement that provided not a bit of clarity on her answer, she added, “I take responsibility for my life and my actions.”
In 1999, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Bill Clinton for perjury and obstruction of its investigation into the affair, but the Senate acquitted him.
“In retrospect, do you think Bill should have resigned in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal? asked Dokoupil.
“Absolutely not,” Clinton answered.
“It wasn’t an abuse of power?” pressed Dokoupil.
“No. No,” she stated.
Dokoupil then said, “There are people who look at the incidents of the ’90s and they say, ‘A president of the United States cannot have a consensual relationship with an intern — the power imbalance is too great.'”
Clinton quickly interrupted, “Who was an adult” — referring to Lewinski.
Then Hillary Clinton immediately pivoted to President Donald Trump’s conduct. “But let me ask you this: Where’s the investigation of the current incumbent, against whom numerous allegations have been made, and which he dismisses, denies, and ridicules?” she asked. “So, there was an investigation [of Bill Clinton], and it, as I believe, came out in the right place.”
The interviewer said to Hillary, “There are people who look at the incidents of the ’90s and they say, ‘A president of the United States cannot have a consensual relationship with an intern — the power imbalance is too great.'”
The Clintons are scheduled to do a joint speaking tour in November after the midterms, and are currently making media rounds to promote it. They will likely face renewed interest and scrutiny regarding Bill Clinton’s conduct in the wake of the national divide sparked by Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings, after he was accused of sexual misconduct and assault by three women. He fervently denied all allegations and has begun his work on the Supreme Court as an associate justice.
Live Nation Entertainment describes the Clinton events as “joint on-stage conversations with the two leaders sharing stories and inspiring anecdotes that shaped their historic careers in public service, while also discussing issues of the day and looking toward the future.”
Related: Trump Stuns with Hillary Clinton Corruption Announcement
U.S. cities on the tour include Las Vegas; Sugar Land, Texas; New York City; Detroit; Philadelphia; Wallingford, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Boston; Seattle; and Los Angeles.
Canadian cities on the tour include Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
The timing of the tour launch promises to deliver ready-made fodder for political discussion.
See Clinton’s comments in the video below.
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