Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Monica Lewinsky

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Monica Lewinsky.

Monica Lewinsky is an American activist who gained international notoriety in the late 1990s due to her affair with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton while she was a White House intern (1995-1997). The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal became a major political event, significantly impacting both her life and Clinton's presidency. Since then, Lewinsky has worked to redefine her public image, becoming an anti-bullying activist and public speaker, addressing issues of online harassment and reputation recovery.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1992: Affair with High School Drama Instructor Alleged

In 1992, Andy Bleiler, Monica Lewinsky's former high school drama instructor, alleged that they began a five-year affair.

November 1995: First Sexual Encounter with Bill Clinton

In November 1995, Monica Lewinsky stated that she had the first of nine sexual encounters with President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office.

March 1997: Last Sexual Encounter with Bill Clinton

In March 1997, Monica Lewinsky stated that she had the last of nine sexual encounters with President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office.

September 1997: Tripp Secretly Records Conversations

In September 1997, after Lewinsky told co-worker Linda Tripp about her relationship with Clinton, Tripp began to secretly record their telephone conversations.

January 1998: Affidavit Denying Relationship with Clinton

In January 1998, Monica Lewinsky submitted an affidavit in the Paula Jones case denying any physical relationship with President Clinton.

January 1998: News of the Clinton-Lewinsky Relationship Breaks

In January 1998, news of the Clinton–Lewinsky relationship became public knowledge. Monica Lewinsky then spent weeks hiding from public attention at her mother's residence.

January 26, 1998: Clinton Denies Sexual Relations with Lewinsky

On January 26, 1998, President Bill Clinton publicly stated, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky" at a White House news conference.

August 17, 1998: Clinton Defends Statement with Semantics

On August 17, 1998, President Clinton defended his earlier statements about not having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, arguing that "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is".

1998: Truth and Context Lost

In 1998, Monica Lewinsky reflected on how the truth and context were lost during the scandal, reducing the involved women to serve political or financial purposes.

2009: Correspondence with Ken Gormley

In 2009, Monica Lewinsky corresponded with scholar Ken Gormley, stating that Clinton had lied under oath.

2013: Auction of Lewinsky Items

In 2013, items associated with Monica Lewinsky that Andy Bleiler had turned over to Starr were put up for auction by Bleiler's ex-wife.

October 2017: #MeToo Tweet

In October 2017, Monica Lewinsky tweeted the #MeToo hashtag to indicate that she was a victim of sexual harassment or sexual assault, but did not provide details.

March 2018: Vanity Fair Essay

In the March 2018 issue of Vanity Fair, Monica Lewinsky wrote an essay in which she didn't directly explain why she used the #MeToo hashtag in October. She did write that looking back at her relationship with Bill Clinton, although it was consensual, because he was 27 years older than she and in a position with a lot more power than she had, in her opinion the relationship constituted an "abuse of power" on Clinton's part. She added that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to what she had experienced after the relationship was disclosed.

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May 2018: Disinvitation from Town & Country Event

In May 2018, Monica Lewinsky was disinvited from an event hosted by Town & Country when Bill Clinton accepted an invitation to the event.

September 2018: Jerusalem Conference Appearance

In September 2018, Monica Lewinsky spoke at a conference in Jerusalem. Following her speech, she sat for a Q&A session with the host, journalist Yonit Levi. Lewinsky refused to answer a question about whether she thinks that Clinton owes her a private apology, and walked off the stage.