In the final episode, Juanita Broaddrick's rape allegation against Bill Clinton and its impact on the impeachment vote is discussed. The episode includes interviews with Broaddrick and Lisa Myers, the NBC News reporter who interviewed Broaddrick during the trial. The podcast delves into why Broaddrick's story has never become a part of Clinton's public image.
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Quick takeaways
Lawyer Abby Lowell concluded that Clinton's actions did not warrant an impeachable offense of abuse of power.
The evidence provided by Ken Starr played a significant role in shaping the Democrats' response to the impeachment proceedings.
Deep dives
The boxes of evidence sent by Ken Starr to Congress
Ken Starr sent over 36 boxes of raw investigative material to Congress, containing grand jury testimony, transcripts of closed-door interviews, and internal memos prepared by prosecutors. The boxes were locked in a room in the Ford office building and only accessible to the House Judiciary Committee. This evidence would be crucial in determining whether or not to propose articles of impeachment to the full House.
Lawyer Abby Lowell's analysis of the evidence
Lawyer Abby Lowell, working on behalf of the congressional Democrats, spent 48 hours reading, sorting, and taking notes on the evidence provided by Ken Starr. After this thorough examination, Lowell concluded that while the President of the United States had engaged in conduct that fell short of expectations, it did not violate criminal statutes of obstruction or perjury. Lowell did not see an abuse of power that would warrant an impeachable offense. This analysis would play a significant role in shaping the Democrats' response to the impeachment proceedings.
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Juanita Broaddrick told Ken Starr’s team of prosecutors that Bill Clinton had raped her in 1978. Her story wasn’t included in the Starr Report—but members of congress found out about it anyway, and had to decide how it would affect their vote on impeachment. In the final episode of our series on Clinton’s impeachment, Leon Neyfakh talks to Broaddrick, and to Lisa Myers, the NBC News reporter whose interview with Broaddrick became a cause célèbre during the impeachment trial. What does it mean that Broaddrick’s story has never really become a part of Bill Clinton’s?