'Not ashamed by impeachment'

WASHINGTON, APRIL 14. The U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, said on Thursday that although he thought his impeachment ordeal had inflicted enough punishment on him, he would not try to escape more by seeking a pardon from his successor if indicted after leaving office.

Asked about his impeachment at an appearance before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Mr. Clinton, clearly irritated at the line of questioning, disparaged the various investigations into his conduct and said he was not ashamed to be only the second impeached President in history.

``That was their decision, not mine,'' he said of the House votes that sent charges against him to the Senate. ``And it was wrong. As a matter of law, Constitution and history, it was wrong. And I'm glad I didn't quit, and I am glad we fought it and the American people stuck with me. And I am profoundly grateful.''

Mr. Clinton's remarks, displaying deep-seated anger at his accusers, were some of the most revealing he had offered about the darkest moments of his presidency. He again said he was ``deeply regretful'' for his conduct, but added that ``I think we saved the Constitution of the United States'' by fighting removal from office.

Asked about the possibility of a presidential pardon for him, Mr. Clinton spoke in slow, measured tones and banged the lectern with his fist, leaving no doubt of his irritation with the question, posed by Ms. Margaret Sullivan, editor of The Buffalo News.

``The answer is no,'' he said, ``I don't have any interest in that. I don't want one. And I am prepared to stand before any bar of justice I have to stand before.'' Mr. Robert Ray, who succeeded Mr. Kenneth Starr as the independent counsel investigating the President, has left open the possibility of having Mr. Clinton indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky case. The Vice- President, Mr. Al Gore, who addressed the newspaper editors on Wednesday, said in response to a question then that he would not grant a pardon, because Mr. Clinton would not seek one. The follow-up question to Mr. Clinton on Thursday sought his first public comment on the matter.

After the President distanced himself from even considering a request for a pardon, he encouraged the assembled editors to read two new books on his impeachment, both favorable to him. Then a stern-sounding Mr. Clinton, staring at the crowd, sought a new topic by saying, ``Next question.''

He said the settlement of the sexual harassment suit filed against him by Ms. Paula Corbin Jones had cost him half his life savings, even though, he said, he won the case. (A trial judge threw out Jones' suit.

But she appealed, and it was during the appeals process that Mr. Clinton settled, for $850,000.) Questioned by Ms. Jones' lawyers, Mr. Clinton denied a sexual relationship with Ms. Monica Lewinsky, a response that became the foundation of the impeachment case.

On Thursday Mr. Clinton said the questions put to him about Ms. Lewinsky were ``asked in bad faith.'' The lawyers ``knew the answer,'' he said, ``and they knew it had nothing to do with the lawsuit - something hardly anybody ever points out.''

- New York Times

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