While Monica was an adult, most legal experts would say as an intern working for a powerful man who had the power to terminate her, that consent is not possible. Even if she said it was consensual, the legal system would argue it was impossible for it to be consensual as long as Clinton could use his power to elevate or destroy Lewinsky.
But in theory, it goes both ways. Unless Bill Clinton was prepared to tell the truth then engaging in sex with someone working for him could have been used to blackmail him and so have his independence compromised. If the “dress” had found its way to the wrong hands and been used to blackmail Clinton by someone seeking to manipulate him, it could have been a serious problem. In some respects, the Republicans did Clinton a favor, the threat to the country of his affair was largely removed once it was out in the open.
After the “Me to” movement I am surprised that you can call what happened to Lewinsky as merely “lying about a blowjob from a consenting adult”. Pursuing sex and engaging in sexual assault against subordinates is an abuse of power and lying to Congress creates “trust” issues. These are the “high crimes and misdemeanors”. His sexual assault against Lewinsky is a civil crime, not one for Congress to focus on. We have courts for that.
But we are off point, my point was Congress is not a court. They are not there to prove civil crimes of the President. In most instance, states should be gathering evidence of civil crimes and the DOJ of Federal crimes (which is why any Federal crimes are referred to the DOJ) even if they can’t act on them until after the President’s term ends (as has become clear with the “Obstruction of Justice” claim against Trump).
Congress is political body. It has no statutory requirement to be “fair” and it isn’t. Impeachment is a tool available to Congress to deal with a President where two thirds of the Senate are convinced the President can no longer perform his duties or be trusted by the nation. We are clearly not there, so the House is largely using the whole process for political purposes which in my mind is an abuse of authority.
When two thirds of Americans oppose impeachment of the President, it is pretty clear that it is time for the House to do what they are paid to do. Americans have decided Trump should remain in office and the voters should decide whether he gets another term (polls show two thirds oppose impeachment). Wasting any more time, that could be better spent on bipartisan legislation is a tragedy and a violation of the trust of the American people as pursuing impeachment goes against their will.
