ABC News/Washington Post Impeachment Hearings Vote Poll, December 1998

This special topic poll, fielded December 12-13, 1998, sought respondents' views on the December 12, 1998, United States House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee vote to recommend that the full House impeach President Bill Clinton, and the ramifications of that recommendation. Those queried were asked whether they believed that Clinton should be impeached, removed from office, or censured and fined. Their views were also sought on whether Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, whether such a lie about an extramarital affair was a sufficient reason to impeach a president, and whether Clinton obstructed justice. Respondents were asked whether they believed that Clinton concealed his affair with Lewinsky to prevent embarrassment or to help his case in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones. Additional topics covered the handling of the impeachment by both political parties, whether Clinton had cooperated with the House Judiciary Committee, the potential effect on the country if Clinton were removed from office, and whether Clinton should be criminally tried for perjury. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, political party, political orientation, education, and voter registration and participation history.