If you’re talking about Bill Clinton’s case in the late 1990s (the Monica Lewinsky scandal), the key point is that the sexual act itself was not considered a criminal offense under U.S. law — at least not in the circumstances of that case.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Consent
- Monica Lewinsky was over the legal age of consent and the encounter was considered consensual.
- Since there was no allegation of coercion or force, it did not meet the definition of sexual assault or harassment under U.S. criminal law.
- Legality of Oral Sex
- In most U.S. states, consensual sexual acts between adults (including oral sex) are not criminal, unless they involve prostitution, minors, or non-consensual circumstances.
- Why It Became a Legal Issue Anyway
- The problem wasn’t the sex itself — it was that Clinton lied under oath about the relationship during a sworn deposition in a separate lawsuit (Paula Jones case).
- That alleged perjury and obstruction of justice was what led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1998 (he was later acquitted by the Senate).
- Workplace Ethics vs. Criminal Law
- Even though it wasn’t a crime, it raised serious ethical concerns because the relationship was between the U.S. President and a White House intern — a workplace power imbalance that can still be considered inappropriate or exploitative in modern workplace policies.
In short: Bill Clinton’s consensual oral sex with Lewinsky was not illegal under U.S. law, but lying about it under oath was what brought legal and political consequences.