Monica S Lewinsky

This week President Clinton enters the final phase of his historic Senate impeachment trial, only the second chief executive in U.S. history to be one step away from the Constitution's ultimate political punishment. Often, in the 375 days since the world first learned of Clinton's affair with Monica S. Lewinsky, the path to impeachment has resembled a glacier inching down a mountain--slow but irresistable.

A leading Christian conservative said Wednesday that sensitive details should have been edited from independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's report before its release on the Internet. "My hope would have been that we could have created a PG or PG-13 version . . . without the sordid details" of the relationship between President Clinton and former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky, said Randy Tate, executive director of the Christian Coalition.

A federal appeals court rejected Monica S. Lewinsky's claim that she has an immunity deal with prosecutors, clearing the final hurdle for independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr to either obtain her testimony about an alleged sexual affair with President Clinton or seek her indictment. Lewinsky had contested a lower court's decision that she does not have a legally binding immunity agreement with Starr that shields her from prosecution in exchange for her testimony.

A Republican senator said the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation should have been handled by someone other than independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr because too many Americans "think he's out to get the president." A Democratic senator said Starr's ethics should be investigated in Congress. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said: "Many people think he's out to get the president, and you have this adverse public reaction to Starr."

For three years, O.J. Simpson was the curiosity in Brentwood. On Monday, he was the curiosity seeker. Simpson drove up to the home owned by Dr. Bernard Lewinsky about 12:30 p.m., smiled for the cameras gathered on the corner and asked one of the cameramen: "Is that the Lewinsky house?" Monica S. Lewinsky has been staying at her father's home after her reported claims of a sexual relationship with President Clinton opened the floodgates of publicity in Washington.

President Clinton has invoked executive privilege in an effort to keep two of his top aides from having to testify fully in independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's investigation of the Monica S. Lewinsky matter, sources said Friday. A team of lawyers for the president, along with Starr and seven prosecutors, presented oral arguments during a closed hearing before U.S. Chief Judge Norma Holloway Johnson on Friday afternoon.

House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said Tuesday that he is reserving judgment on impeachment in the Monica S. Lewinsky case and will not commit to a partisan defense of President Clinton. Gephardt called Clinton's actions "reprehensible" and promised to give evidence a fair review once independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr gives his report to Congress.

The Times' Web site has an extensive section on the scandal. Go to http://www.latimes.com/scandal for: Audio Perspective: Times Washington Bureau Chief Doyle McManus gives his personal view on the effect the Clinton scandal has had on government, politics and the Washington scene.

Since 1992, accusations and surprise have surrounded President Clinton and raised doubts about his character but have not seriously hurt him. This time the claims are so grave--perjury, obstruction of justice--that they could sink his presidency if proven. Kenneth W. Starr Whitewater independent counsel beginning new investigation into alleged presidential affairs and cover-up. * Monica S. Lewinsky Former White House intern alleged to have had affair with Clinton.