Visiting expert says Clinton's actions are 'not impeachable'

To impeach, or not to impeach. That was the question University of Chicago Professor Cass Sunstein posed at Tuesday's Owen Roberts Memorial Lecture, just one day after he appeared before the House Judiciary Committee as an expert on the subject. Close to 200 people, mostly Penn Law School students and faculty, packed the Law School's McKean Hall Classroom to hear Sunstein, a constitutional theorist and noted author, discuss the topic that has gripped the nation since January -- the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the potential for impeaching President Clinton over his conduct in the matter. While the theme of the lecture focused mostly on Clinton's current predicament, Sunstein also traced the development of the impeachment clause in the Constitution and how the past influences Congress' actions today. "If you look at the impeachment debates in the Constitution, the debaters were well aware of the issues which are affecting us today," Sunstein explained. "The founding fathers found limiting the impeachment process important." Sunstein cited past presidents, including Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan, all of whom could have been subject to impeachment inquiries, but were not. As the lecture progressed, Sunstein expressed his opinion of the Clinton situation -- siding in favor of the damaged leader. "Perjury and obstruction of justice are impeachable actions, but it depends on what the president obstructed," Sunstein said. "President Clinton has not, even if the allegations are correct, committed an impeachable offense." Sunstein agreed that the allegations against Clinton are very serious, but warned that the future consequences of an impeachment hearing could be even more severe. "If we have an impeachment hearing now, we will have two more in the next 30 years," he said. "The long term nature of the Clinton situation has nothing to do with Clinton. It will affect the system of checks and balances." Following his speech, Sunstein opened up the forum for a question and answer session. Students and professors alike asked questions ranging from the press' influence and responsibility to whether Clinton should face legal consequences following his presidency. "I don't think President Clinton should be indicted," Sunstein responded. "An ordinary citizen would not be indicted in this situation? Enough for him." As the program moved to a cocktail reception, students immediately began sharing their reactions. "It was a very clear description of both the original understanding of impeachment and how it has historically been applied, or in some cases, not applied," second-year Law student Margaret O'Shea said. "I agree with the speaker. I think we should move on." John Carney, also a second-year Law student, disagreed. "I think President Clinton is impeachable, even after this speech. Professor Sunstein gave the best case he could, but it still wasn't strong enough."

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