Mitch Mcconnell statement

Feb 1999


"Time after time, the President came to a fork in the road. Time after time, he had the opportunity to choose the noble and honorable path. Time after time, he chose the path of lies and lawlessness—for the simple reason that he did not want to endanger his hold on public office."

"The President would seek to win at any cost. If it meant lying to the American people. If it meant lying to his Cabinet," he continued. "The name of the game was winning. Winning at any cost."

"He took an oath to faithfully execute the laws of this nation, and he violated that oath," the senator said. "He pledged to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer, and he violated that pledge. He took an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and he willfully and repeatedly violated that oath."

"I think that the United States Senate has a clear choice," McConnell said at the time. "Do we want to retain President Clinton in office, or do we want to retain our honor, our principle, and our moral authority?"

"For me, and for many members in my impeachment-fatigued party, I choose honor," he said.