Gillibrand Says Bill Clinton Should Have Quit 20 Years Ago

She says Lewinsky affair should have ended presidency
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 17, 2017 2:06 AM CST
Updated Nov 17, 2017 5:00 AM CST
Democratic Senator Says Bill Clinton Should Have Resigned
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks during an interview in her office on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In today's climate, Bill Clinton wouldn't have been able to hang on as president after his inappropriate relationship with a young White House intern was exposed—and he should have stepped down 20 years ago, a prominent Democratic senator says. New York's Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has campaigned with both Clintons, tell the New York Times that resigning would have been the "appropriate response" to the Monica Lewinsky affair. "Things have changed today, and I think under those circumstances there should be a very different reaction," she says. "And I think in light of this conversation, we should have a very different conversation about President Trump, and a very different conversation about allegations against him."

As allegations of sexual harassment and assault engulf other prominent figures, there have been calls to take a fresh look at the conduct of Bill Clinton, including the affair with Lewinsky, which took place between 1995 and 1997. On Wednesday, Gillibrand introduced the "Me Too Congress Act" to combat what she says is the pervasive problem of sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill, CBS reports. Asked about the groping incident that Sen. Al Franken, another Democrat, apologized for Thursday, Gillibrand said the conduct described was "very disturbing." "I was very disappointed," she said. "But it's important that survivors are coming out and speaking truth to power and telling their stories." (The Pentagon accidentally retweeted a call for Trump to resign Thursday.)

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