Former U.S. Senate Legal Counsel Thomas Griffith spoke at the Law School yesterday about his involvement in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.
Clinton was put on trial last year for obstruction of justice and perjury in connection with his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Griffith, a Law School alumnus, was a mediator between Congress, Clinton's attorneys and the Supreme Court Chief Justice during the proceedings. When questions about the trial arose, Griffith helped explain the legalities.
Griffith said both low moments and learning experiences characterized the impeachment process.
Despite the indignity attached to impeachment trials, some positives emerged during the process, he said.
"I felt something spiritual when I heard members of both parties praying together," he added. "I was pleasantly surprised at the devotion to God."
Griffith said one role of each senator was to be "like a judge and a juror," but that they should not forget they "are still senators."
A two-thirds majority is required to remove a president from office. The Senate voted 50 to 50 in Clinton's trial. Griffith said if he was a senator, he would have voted to convict Clinton.
Although Clinton was brought up on charges of high crimes and misdemeanors for lying under oath, Griffith said he still has faith in the judicial system.
He said Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr - whose investigation led to the impeachment hearings - deserves some credit for his role in the case.
"The only thing [Starr] has ever wanted in his life is to be on the Supreme Court, [but] he knew that when he became independent counsel he said good-bye to the one goal he centered his career around," he added. Although Starr "made some horrendous mistakes ... he ought to be a hero among lawyers."
Griffith said Starr is the "ultimate example of a public servant" because of his self-sacrifice. He also named some other trial participants as "semi-profiles in semi-courage."
He added that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D) performed well during the proceedings.
Daschle "saw that the Senate had a duty to treat the House with respect," Griffith said.
Griffith said there is one thing Americans should have gained from the proceedings.
"One of the greatest lessons" to be learned from the impeachment proceedings is that "you can't have a partisan impeachment," he said.
The Rex E. Lee Law Society sponsored the speech. A crowd of about 60 students, faculty and guests attended the speech.
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