Former President Bill Clinton back-tracked from his controversial comments regarding the ‘Me Too’ movement Monday night, claiming he personally apologized to Monica Lewinsky 20 years ago over the secret scandal that nearly took-down his presidency.
Clinton clarified his comments regarding the ‘Me Too’ movement in New York City just hours after he fumbled through a highly-contentious interview with NBC News; saying he never apologized to Monica Lewinsky personally because he said he was sorry to “everyone.”
“The truth is I got hot under the collar because the way the questions were asked,” said Clinton.
“The suggestion was that I never apologized for what caused all the trouble for me 20 years ago. The first point is: I did. I meant it then and I mean it now. I apologized to my family, to Monica Lewinsky and her family, and to the American people before a panel of ministers in the White House,” added the former President.
Watch Clinton’s comments above.
BILL TOO? Clinton Says He DOESN'T Owe Monica Lewinsky an Apology
Former President Bill Clinton shocked Democrats and other ‘Me Too’ advocates across the country Monday, saying he doesn’t owe Monica Lewinsky a personal apology and has no plans to say “he’s sorry” to his White House intern.
According to the New York Post, Clinton was speaking with NBC’s ‘Today’ Show when he was asked to comment on the current movement sweeping the entertainment and political world in recent months; saying he’s “never talked” to Lewinsky after their secret affair rocked the world back in 1998.
“Through the lens of #MeToo now, do you think differently or feel more responsibility?… Did you ever apologize to her [Lewinsky]?” @craigmelvin to Bill Clinton pic.twitter.com/rXcixhDHER
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 4, 2018
“I apologized to everybody in the world,” Clinton said.
The former President pushed back when asked if he plans to personally apologize to the former intern, saying “I do not.”
“I’ve never talked to her. But I did say, publicly, on more than one occasion, that I was sorry. That’s very different. The apology was public,” he added.
Clinton deflected further when asked if the modern political climate would have forced him to resign from office had the scandal taken place today.
“Well, I don’t think it would be an issue. Because people would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts. If the facts were the same today, I wouldn’t,” he added.
Watch Clinton’s comments above.
MONICA RESPONDS: Lewinsky Reacts to Clinton’s ‘No Apology’ Comments
Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky spoke out Monday afternoon just hours after President Bill Clinton said he doesn’t “owe” her an apology; reposting an interview and thanking those that have helped her the “past 20 years.”
Lewinsky broke her silence on social media after the former President cold-heartedly reacted when pressed on the current ‘Me Too’ movement, saying he has never issued a personal apology to his intern and has no plans of doing so.
“grateful to the myriad people who have helped me evolve + gain perspective in the past 20 years […] worth reposting this today from @VanityFair,” she tweeted.
grateful to the myriad people who have helped me evolve + gain perspective in the past 20 years.
worth reposting this today from @VanityFair …https://t.co/u9Ta13Alz3
— Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) June 4, 2018
President Clinton found himself in hot water among Democrats and other ‘Me Too’ supporters this week after he refused to comment on the possible apology, adding he had settled the matter 20 years ago when he said he was sorry to “everybody.”