Clinton, GOP clash over trial

A flurry of paper filings precede President Clinton's upcoming Senate impeachment trial. The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- President Clinton and House Republicans clashed in impeachment trial papers yesterday, the White House claiming perjury and obstruction allegations fall short of high crimes and misdemeanors and GOP lawmakers rebutting: "If this is not enough, what is?" Clinton denied "each and every allegation" in the House-passed articles of impeachment. The House, in papers filed a few hours later with the Senate, insisted the evidence against the nation's 42nd president "overwhelmingly supports both charges," perjury and obstruction of justice. The two documents were filed in advance of opening trial arguments, set for Thursday in the Senate with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. Clinton's lawyers decided to forgo filing a motion seeking to dismiss the case at its very inception, although officials suggested they would make that motion after both sides had finished presenting evidence. The House decided against filing any immediate motions, as well, although lawmakers are certain to seek permission from the Senate later to call witnesses. The papers were filed as key House lawmakers met privately to plan the formal presentation of their case. "We will do a very good job and then when we reach the point of asking for witnesses, we think the senators will be in a more generous mood having heard our case," said Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), point man in the impeachment effort. In a conclusion to its 105-page filing, the House termed the impeachment battle a "defining moment for the presidency." If Clinton is not convicted, "then no House of Representatives will ever be able to impeach again and no Senate will ever convict. The bar will be so high that only a convicted felon or a traitor will need to be concerned," the GOP prosecutor-lawmakers wrote. "Can you imagine a future president, faced with possible impeachment, pointing to the perjuries, lies, obstructions and tampering with witnesses by the current occupant of the office as not rising to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors? If this is not enough, what is?" Several of Clinton's defenders in the House said during the proceedings there that, even if proven, the allegations against Clinton did not warrant impeachment. And even Republican senators concede that a two-thirds majority of the Senate appears unlikely to convict Clinton and remove him from office. Vice President Al Gore predicted yesterday that the Senate would not do so. "What the president did was wrong," Gore told The Associated Press in an interview. "He's acknowledged that, asked for forgiveness. But what he did falls far short" of misbehavior warranting removal from office.