Jerrold Nadler

Jerrold Nadler is a U.S. Representative from New York. He was one of the fifteen democrats on the House Judiciary Committee to vote against articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton that the committee adopted in December 1998. In the following viewpoint, taken from his December 19, 1998, statement before the full House of Representatives, Nadler argues that not enough evidence supports the accusations of perjury and obstruction of justice brought against Clinton by independent counsel Kenneth Starr. In addition, he argues that the impeachment process is meant to remove officials whose actions seriously threaten the U.S. government. Nadler maintains that Clinton’s alleged offenses stemming from the attempted concealment of a private sexual affair do not meet this criterion.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Why, in Nadler...