I certainly hope

"I certainly hope that if there is going to be an indictment that says something happened, that it is an indictment on a crime and not some perjury technicality where they couldn't indict on the crime and so they go to something just to show that their two years of investigation was not a waste of time and taxpayer dollars." Russert challenged Hutchison's statement, saying: "But the fact is perjury or obstruction of justice is a very serious crime, and Republicans certainly thought so when charges were placed against Bill Clinton before the United States Senate." Hutchison responded: "Well, there were charges against Bill Clinton besides perjury and obstruction of justice. And I'm not saying that those are not crimes. They are."

Hutchison was one of 45 Republican senators to vote "guilty" on the perjury charge, and one of 50 Republican senators to vote "guilty" on the obstruction of justice charge on February 12, 1999. A February 14, 1999, Dallas Morning News article quoted her as saying: "The principle of the rule of law -- equality under the law and a clear standard for perjury and obstruction of justice -- was the overriding issue in this impeachment."

* * * Special Thanks goes out to Media Matters for America.* * *