Full Breakdown
Newt Gingrich Reassesses Clinton Impeachment, Labels It a Mistake
5/27/2026, 8:55:31 PM
Gingrich Calls Clinton Impeachment a Mistake
In a May 27 2026 interview on the “Pod Force One” podcast with Miranda Devine, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton “was a mistake.” He argued that the focus on the Monica Lewinsky affair obscured the underlying issue of Clinton’s perjury in a sexual-harassment case from his time as Arkansas governor.
Political Context of the 1998 Impeachment
Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky emerged in early 1998, while he was simultaneously facing a civil lawsuit filed by Paula Jones, who alleged sexual harassment dating to 1991. In 1994, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Independent Counsel Ken Starr, initially to investigate the Whitewater real-estate matter, but his mandate later expanded to include the Jones case. Starr’s report concluded that Clinton lied under oath, prompting House Republicans to pursue impeachment on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The Senate ultimately acquitted Clinton, making him the second U.S. president to undergo impeachment proceedings.
Key Players: Clinton, Gingrich, and the Starr Investigation
- Bill Clinton – 42nd president, subject of the impeachment.
- Newt Gingrich – Republican Speaker of the House (1995-1999), chief architect of the impeachment strategy.
- Ken Starr – Independent Counsel overseeing the investigation that produced the impeachment basis.
- Paula Jones – Plaintiff in the 1994 sexual-harassment lawsuit.
- Janet Reno – Attorney General who appointed Starr.
- Al Gore – Democratic vice-presidential candidate in 2000, referenced by Gingrich regarding campaign strategy.
Timeline of the Impeachment Process and Aftermath
- 1991 – Jones alleges sexual harassment by Clinton.
- 1994 – Jones files lawsuit; Reno appoints Starr.
- Summer 1998 – Gingrich, dining with his daughters, recognizes the impeachment focus on Lewinsky as a misstep.
- December 1998 – House votes to impeach Clinton.
- January 1999 – Senate trial begins.
- February 1999 – Senate acquits Clinton.
- Late 2000 – Clinton polls at 67 % approval.
- 2000-2005 – Clinton’s Arkansas law license suspended for five years; he is barred from practicing law and from appearing before the Supreme Court.
- May 2026 – Gingrich publicly revisits the impeachment decision.
Public Opinion and Legal Outcomes
A poll conducted in late 2000 recorded Clinton’s approval rating at 67 %, near his historical peak. Legally, Clinton was found in civil contempt for misleading testimony in the Jones case, and his Arkansas law license was revoked for five years, reflecting the perjury finding that Gingrich cited as the core issue.
Implications for Political Strategy and Historical Assessment
Gingrich contended that the impeachment “backfired,” leaving Clinton “at the high point of his popularity” and influencing the 2000 election dynamics. He suggested the episode deterred Al Gore from campaigning closely with Clinton and warned that Democrats used the impeachment as a talking point that “anything goes” in future politics. Gingrich also noted that Democrats did not pursue impeachment of President George W. Bush, highlighting a perceived partisan double standard.
Official Statements from Newt Gingrich
Gingrich repeatedly emphasized that the impeachment’s focus on Lewinsky “trivialized” the perjury charge, that he “always argued the question, ‘Is he allowed to commit felonies?’” and that his earlier assessment of the cultural climate was mistaken. He linked the impeachment’s fallout to both Clinton’s sustained popularity and strategic calculations by the Democratic ticket in 2000.
Criticism and Opposition Perspectives
Democratic commentators, as referenced by Gingrich, framed the impeachment as a partisan effort that reduced a constitutional process to a “triviality,” warning that such precedent could enable future politically motivated impeachments. The critique underscores concerns about the impeachment’s impact on institutional norms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source material presents a consistent narrative regarding Clinton’s perjury, law-license suspension, and Senate acquittal; no direct contradictions appear. However, the articles lack statements from Clinton, Democratic officials, or independent legal analyses, leaving gaps in the broader assessment of the impeachment’s constitutional justification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think it was a mistake, because the real problem wasn’t Lewinsky,” — Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker
- “The real problem was he committed perjury in a case involving sexual harassment when he was governor.” — Newt Gingrich
- “I always argued the question, ‘Is he allowed to commit felonies?’ But by allowing, and this is partly the way the report was written, by allowing it to be about sex, it trivialized it,” — Newt Gingrich
- “[Clinton] actually left office at the high point of his popularity,” — Newt Gingrich
- “And I realized at that point I had completely misunderstood how the culture was evolving.” — Newt Gingrich
What’s Next
No forthcoming events or investigations are mentioned in the sources. Gingrich’s admission may shape future scholarly and public discussions of the 1998 impeachment’s legacy.