C
Cosworth
Guest
It is perjury only if the false statement is material to the case, i.e., if it could affect the outcome of the investigation (see post 68 in this thread).
In Clinton's case, independent counsel Ken Starr investigated ancient allegations of sexual harassment while Clinton was governor of Arkansas. The lie concerned a consensual sexual encounter which took place years later. Whether the President had oral sex with Monica Lewinski, who was a willing partner, did not help prove whether or not Clinton sexually harassed Paula Corbin Jones or Jennifer Flowers.
I am not a lawyer and I have no case law to support this but I recall hearing/reading that when a boss (Governor/POTUS) has sex with a subordinate it cannot be consensual. Kind of like a sex with a minor. Even if the minor did in deed consent, the law does not recognize the consent.
Can easily see the 'victim' saying that she consented because she thought her job was at stake and she had no choice if she wanted to feed her family....etc.
They may have also been trying to establish a pattern of behavior/lying. Clinton should have either refused to answer or told the truth. He screwed up and paid the price. This country is far more interested in sex than in what is really screwing this country. Clinton failed to recognize that.