The long-awaited Starr report, which will help decide whether President Clinton remains in office, arrived at the US Congress yesterday, as Mr Clinton pleaded for another chance.
"I am determined to redeem the trust people like you have placed in me," the President told a large gathering of Democratic supporters in Orlando, Florida.
"I am determined never to let anything like that happen again," he said, referring to his affair in the White House with the former intern, Ms Monica Lewinsky, and later vehement denial on nationwide TV.
But evidence that may yet lead to his dismissal from office arrived in 36 boxes at the Capitol under the supervision of FBI agents.
The dark blue van was unloaded by the Capitol police and taken to a sealed vault, to which no one will have access until the House of Representatives votes on a resolution on procedure, either today or tomorrow.
The actual report by the independent counsel, Mr Ken Starr, is believed to be about 500 pages. It will include a section in which Mr Starr will set out the grounds for possible impeachment of President Clinton by the House.
There is also a 25-page introduction, which, some observers believe, may be the "executive summary" which will be later released to the media.
Most of the material in the boxes will be transcripts of grand jury hearings over seven months and items which could include presents that the President gave to Ms Lewinsky.
Mr Starr's spokesman, Mr Charles Bakaly, said outside the Capitol that the office of the independent counsel was submitting "substantive and credible information that may constitute grounds for the impeachment of the President".
President Clinton's personal lawyer, Mr David Kendall, later said the report contained "only allegations" and that he was certain "there is no basis for impeachment".
When the House votes on a resolution on how to handle the report, it will be sent to the Judiciary Committee, which can hold hearings and summon witnesses. The committee will later vote on whether it believes there are grounds to impeach President Clinton for "high crimes and misdemeanours", such as perjury or obstruction of justice.
If the committee votes articles of impeachment, the full House of 435 members would then have to vote on them. If it votes to impeach the President, he would then be tried by the Senate, presided by the Chief Justice.
A conviction and dismissal from office of Mr Clinton would require a two-thirds majority of the 100-member Senate, where the present Republican majority is less than two-thirds.