By Emily Haleck
Former U.S. Senate Legal Counsel Thomas Griffith relayed some of his insider”s experiences with the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton Tuesday Jan. 21.
Griffith, who now serves as General Counsel and Assistant to the President at BYU, spoke of his former duties, representing the Senate and advising senate committees on investigatory powers and privileges.
“He was both informative and entertaining, and very objective in his relaying of information,” said Arieyl Desisto, 19, from Washington D.C. The sophomore psychology major was impressed with Griffith”s presentation and extensive knowledge on the trial.
Griffith talked about how and why the decision to keep President Clinton in office was reached. Griffith said the decision finally came down to a single question: “Is it in the national interest to overthrow the President of the United States?”
The Senate decided it was not.
“It”s not a jury – it”s senators, and they need to act in the national interest,” Griffith said.
Although Clinton was found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice, the Constitution says a president can be removed only if he commits treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, Griffith said.
Problems arose in the interpretation of high crimes or misdemeanors, Griffith said. No one could agree on a solid definition, thus no one could prove Clinton”s actions were either of these things.
In order to remove a president from office, Griffith said, there must be evidence beyond all reasonable doubt.
Griffith said he felt the Senate came to the right decision in keeping Clinton in office. With only one and a half years left in the presidential term, and an impressive list of accomplishments, the American people did not want Clinton removed.
Also, legislators who supported Clinton”s removal did so for very venal reasons, Griffith said. He said he felt the impeachment process was a partisan effort to try to take advantage of a vulnerable president.
Griffith said Clinton should have been censured rather than acquitted.
Griffith”s responsibilities during the trial included informing senators, and even the Chief Justice of the U.S., on impeachment trial proceedings. He said he had to make them realize an impeachment trial was very different from other trials.
“They knew nothing, but wanted to know it, and I knew it all,” Griffith said. “It was great fun.”
As the chief legal officer of the U.S., Griffith spent a lot of time with Clinton”s lawyers, whom he found to be very admirable, he said.
“I have never in my professional or church life met a brighter, more intelligent, more principled group of people than the lawyers for President Clinton,” Griffith said.
Others involved in the case also showed integrity and professionalism, including Monica Lewinsky, who was a marvelous witness, he said.
“She”s morally bankrupt, but she”s smart,” Griffith said.
He said he was also impressed in several private meetings, as senators offered sincere prayers for guidance and expressed concern about justice being carried out.
Despite whether the final decision to keep Clinton in office was moral or not, Griffith said it was an historic constititutional crisis.
Griffith spoke at a meeting of the College Republicans Club. State Chairman of the local chapter, Brian Chapman, 23, felt the lecture went well.
“It gave students a great opportunity to learn about an important trial while having a good time,” Chapman said.
