The impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton commenced after the House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against him on December 19, 1998. The charges focused on perjury and obstruction of justice, primarily related to Clinton's extramarital relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The trial was marked by intense media coverage and political divisions, as Clinton became only the second sitting president to be impeached in U.S. history, following Andrew Johnson in 1868. Clinton's defense team argued that the charges were politically motivated and urged the Senate to acquit him.

Beginning January 7, 1999, the Senate trial was presided over by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. It featured both House managers presenting the case against Clinton and the president's legal team arguing for his acquittal. After several weeks of testimony and deliberation, the Senate voted on February 12, 1999. In a decisive outcome, the Senate acquitted Clinton on both articles: the vote on the first article of perjury was 45 not guilty to 55 guilty, and on the second article of obstruction of justice, the vote was 50 not guilty to 50 guilty. Both votes fell short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction.

The acquittal allowed Clinton to remain in office for the remainder of his two-term presidency, which would conclude in January 2001. Clinton's presidency was characterized by economic prosperity, but the impeachment trial overshadowed his second term. The acquittal also raised questions about the political implications, as well as the role of personal conduct in assessing a president's fitness for office, leading to ongoing debates about morality and politics in American governance.