It8217;s business as usual

The solemn opening of the proceedings, the first presidential impeachment trial in 131 years, was televised live from the Senate floor but Clinton paid no heed, his spokesman Joe Lockhart told a news briefing. 8220;He was in the residence working over there and, I am reliably informed, was not watching,8221; he said.

8220;He was in the private residence until just before lunchtime and was still at lunch with the Vice President when I came down to the briefing.8221;Only the second trial of a President in US history opened one year after his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, aformer White House intern nearly half his age, was revealed.

Lockhart said the White House has had no reply from Congress on a last-ditch offer from Clinton8217;s attorneys to wave their right to contest evidence in the case. House prosecutors who are conducting the case against Clinton have said they want a free hand to call witnesses but the White House wants a streamlined trial.

8220;We8217;ll forgo our rights to cross-examination based on what we think is our ability to argue this case and based on the overwhelming consensus that it8217;s in the best interests of this country and the American people to find a way to put this whole case behind us,8221; Lockhart said.

He said the White House had told Senators it was prepared to avoid a challenge to the record of evidence in the case in a bid to speed up the trial and avoid a parade of witnesses through the Senate. 8220;We were willing to stipulate to the record that the House Judiciary Committee sent over in support of the articles of impeachment.8221;

8220;We have notheard back either formally or informally on the suggestions that we made to the senators last evening,8221; said Lockhart. It is unlikely that Republicans who hold 55 of the 100 seats in the Senate will accept this proposal but if they don8217;t, Lockhart warned, 8220;all bets are off8221;.