Startling new allegations of sexual misbehaviour by President Clinton inside the White House and the obstruction of justice have rocked the Washington political establishment.
President Clinton has said he is "outraged" by the accusations and denies he had an improper or sexual relationship with a former White House intern, Ms Monica Lewinsky (24). However, tapes exist which allegedly reveal Ms Lewinsky giving graphic sexual details of such a relationship.
Ms Lewinsky has also signed a sworn affidavit denying she had an affair with Mr Clinton during her term in the White House. She swore this affidavit while unaware that she was being taped in conversations with a friend, Ms Linda Tripp.
Ms Tripp, who also used to work in the White House, had earlier been the source of the allegation that Mr Clinton had fondled another woman inside the Oval Office. This aide, Ms Kathleen Willey, has been obliged to testify in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case. According to Newsweek magazine, she confirmed the President fondled her.
The latest Clinton allegations broke with the news that the independent counsel investigating the Whitewater affair, Mr Kenneth Starr, has now been authorised to investigate charges that Mr Clinton and one of his legal advisers urged Ms Lewinsky to deny she had an affair with the President when giving her affidavit.
Mr Clinton, in an interview last night, denied the charges and said he would co-operate fully with Mr Starr's inquiry.
Charges of obstructing justice and encouraging someone to commit perjury would be disastrous for Mr Clinton politically if substantiated.
There is a link, however, between the Paula Jones case and this latest allegation. Ms Jones's lawyers had, as part of their case against Mr Clinton, asked Ms Lewinsky about rumours that she had a sexual relationship with Mr Clinton. It was at this stage that she allegedly sought advice from Mr Clinton and was told to deny the affair.
He is also alleged to have told her to contact his friend and unofficial legal adviser, Mr Vernon Jordan. Mr Jordan is also said to have told her to deny the affair.
It appears that Ms Tripp approached Mr Starr on the basis of conversations she had with Ms Lewinsky about her alleged affair with Mr Clinton. Mr Starr then arranged for Ms Tripp to be "wired" so that further conversations could be taped.
It may be significant that when Mr Clinton's Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, heard about the tapes, she recommended that Mr Starr be authorised to extend his Whitewater inquiry into the allegations of Ms Lewinsky concerning obstruction of justice.
While emphasising that the latest charges are still allegations, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Mr Henry Hyde, said that if they were confirmed, they could lead to impeachment proceedings by Congress against Mr Clinton for tampering with witnesses.