Impeachment: American Crime Story ends with the characters’ lives in the year 2000, leaving plenty of unanswered questions about the scandal’s aftermath and real-life consequences. Most TV shows leave questions and mysteries that can never really be answered, but as American Crime Story: Impeachment is a true story, many of the explanations are in history books. It’s been over 20 years since the events of American Crime Story season 3, and the U.S. is still feeling the cultural effects of the Clinton impeachment today.
American Crime Story’s season largely followed the women involved with Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial rather than the president himself. One significant point of view comes from Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford), a woman who publicly sues Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. While simultaneously posed as a villain and sympathetic character, Impeachment also depicts the perspective of Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) a former White House employee who befriends Monica and tapes their conversations. Above all, Impeachment tells the story of Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein), a former White House intern who became one of the most famous women in the world after her sexual relationship with the president was revealed.
After 10 episodes detailing the lead-up to Clinton’s trial, Impeachment ends with the revelation that Bill Clinton got a second chance while the female characters’ lives were changed forever. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate of his charges and continued being president, while Monica, Paula, and Linda struggled to escape the media limelight and live normal lives. While the question of whether Clinton would be impeached was explained in the finale, Impeachment still left several mysteries about its characters.
Did Bill Clinton Ever Face Consequences For Sexual Harassment & Assault?
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Bill Clinton was shown acquitted of charges for perjury, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power, but Impeachment never answers whether the many underlying allegations of sexual misconduct resulted in consequences. In real life, at least six women accused Bill Clinton of sexual harassment or assault, but he never faced criminal charges for any. Instead, he settled the case with Paula Jones for $800,000 million and none of the other women brought formal lawsuits against him. He’ll always hold being a sexual abuser in his reputation, but the president never actually faced legal consequences for his misconduct.
Did Monica And Linda Ever Speak Again?
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Impeachment episode 10 ends in 1999/2000 with Linda giving an interview to George Magazine and Monica at a book signing. Linda reveals to her interviewer that she hasn’t spoken to Monica since the day she ambushed Monical with Ken Starr’s office and the FBI at the mall, meaning it had already been nearly two years. Linda Tripp passed away in April 2020 after being dismissed from her Pentagon job in 2001, moving to Virginia, and living a quiet farm life for her remaining years. Sarah Paulson’s character Linda Tripp states in Impeachment‘s ending that she doesn’t believe contacting Monica would have been welcome, and at the time it probably wasn’t.
Considering Impeachment, which was consulted on and produced by Monica Lewinsky, paints Linda in a far more sympathetic light than ever seen before in the media, it appears Monica doesn’t look back on Linda with only ill-will. Upon hearing the news of Linda Tripp’s illness and impending passing, Monica took to Twitter hoping for her recovery and sending condolences to her family. Although 20 years have allowed the women to reevaluate the grueling events of the Impeachment era, Monica and Linda never spoke again after the mall ambush in 1998 (via The Seattle Times).
What Happened With Hillary’s U.S. Senate Race In New York?
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As Monica, Linda, and Paula attempt to pick up the pieces of their private and public lives after the impeachment trial’s media frenzy, American Crime Story shows a ray of hope for future presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Impeachment’s finale episode depicts Hillary getting a call proposing that she run for an open U.S. Senate seat in New York, supported by how nationally popular she has become. In February 1999 when Monica Lewinsky has moved to New York City and is on her way to a book signing, she walks by posters on the street campaigning for New Yorkers to vote for Hillary Clinton for U.S. Senate. American Crime Story thus reveals Clinton did run for the seat but doesn’t cover the race’s results. In real life, Hillary ended up winning, being sworn in as a U.S. Senator from New York in January 2001. As history can attest, this was just the beginning of Hillary’s political career becoming the primary focus instead of her husband’s. In 2008 and 2016, Hillary Clinton ran for the U.S. presidency, losing the latter race to twice-impeached president Donald Trump.
Where Is The Real Monica Lewinsky Today?
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Monica is last seen in Impeachment at a book signing event for her biography Monica’s Story in 1999. After being unable to secure a job and needing to pay back the debt for her lawyers and legal fees, Monica reluctantly agreed to write a book about her side of the story. She spent much of 1999 on an international book tour primarily located in the UK, with only one U.S. signing that took place in Los Angeles. Monica subsequently made the rounds on press outlets and interviews, while also writing thoughtful articles for publications like Vanity Fair. After spending nearly a decade out of the limelight during the 2000s, Monica returned to media on her own accord, using her celebrity platform to advocate for a retrospective look on the Clinton scandal as well as the ramifications of cyberbullying. Impeachment‘s Monica Lewinsky has referred to herself as “patient zero” in terms of cyberbullying, having been at the center of one of the most international cultural events at the beginning of the internet’s height (via CNN). Aside from her philanthropic pursuits, Monica herself served on the team for Impeachment: American Crime Story as a producer.
Why Wasn’t VP Al Gore Featured In The Series?
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The most integral political figures of the Clinton scandal are featured in American Crime Story season 3, with one notable character missing. Considering Impeachment even includes figures like Bernie Nussbaum, Sidney Blumenthal, and Paul Begala, it’s surprising Impeachment didn’t include Vice President Al Gore, who was also running a fraught presidential campaign during this time. Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial and Gore’s own distancing from the president were harmful to his campaign, with Al Gore facing the brunt of the event’s political ramifications. Had Bill Clinton been found guilty of his charges before the Senate or resigned, the presidency would have gone to Al Gore, which makes it curious as to why Impeachment: American Crime Story didn’t feature him.