At 10:54 AM 9/12/98 -0700, Declan McCullagh wrote:
1. it's tough to argue that clinton's apparent perjury in Jones was immaterial
2. i know of no law saying perjury only a crime if it's "material"
3. perjury is certainly one of the "great offenses" that common law says is impeachable.
4. besides, non-criminal activities can constitute impeachable offenses -- look at second and third articles of impeachment in Nixon's case
-Declan
In addition, the last man impeached and convicted by Congress (circa 1988) Judge Alcy Hastings (sp?) was convicted for perjury in a tax evasion case in which he was acquitted of the original charges. Hastings was later elected to Congress from Florida and last week dissed Clinton by not attending a fundraiser he held there for the Democrat candidate for governor. Hastings said that he has yet to make up his mind on Clinton and wants to review the evidence. DCF