Henry Hyde
Clinton impeachment
### Clinton impeachment

[thumb\|right\|Hyde at a hearing on special counsel [Ken Starr](/wiki/Ken_Starr "Ken Starr")'s investigation of [President](/wiki/President_of_the_United_States "President of the United States") [Bill Clinton](/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton")'s relationship with [Monica Lewinsky](/wiki/Monica_Lewinsky "Monica Lewinsky"), November 1998\.](/wiki/File:Henry_Hyde_at_a_hearing_on_special_counsel_Ken_Starr%27s_investigation.jpg "Henry Hyde at a hearing on special counsel Ken Starr's investigation.jpg")
[Hyde reads the [articles of impeachment](/wiki/Article_of_impeachment "Article of impeachment") to the Senate on January 7, 1999\|thumb](/wiki/File:Henry_Hyde_during_the_Clinton_impeachment_trial_on_January_7%2C_1999_%2801%29.png "Henry Hyde during the Clinton impeachment trial on January 7, 1999 (01).png")

Hyde argued that the House had a constitutional and civic duty to impeach [Bill Clinton](/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton") for [perjury](/wiki/Perjury "Perjury"). In the Resolution on Impeachment of the President, Hyde wrote:

Clinton was impeached by the House on two charges: perjury and obstruction of justice. Hyde served as chief [House manager](/wiki/House_manager "House manager") (prosecutor) at the President's trial in the Senate; he became known for his remarks in his closing argument:

Despite Hyde's efforts, President Clinton was acquitted of both perjury and obstruction of justice. With a two\-thirds majority required for conviction, only 45 senators voted for conviction on the perjury charge and only 50 on the obstruction of justice charge.

Despite being on opposites sides during the impeachment, Hyde was good friends with representative [Barney Frank](/wiki/Barney_Frank "Barney Frank") who praised his efforts to keep the impeachment "personality free".


Can a president be impeached for private actions rather than official ones?