President Bill Clinton came under fire last night from members of Congress who said they were leaning towards a full impeachment inquiry.
But legislators left open the door for the President to survive if he stopped using technicalities to claim he did not perjure himself when denying sexual activity with Monica Lewinsky.
The comments came after the President's legal team issued a second rebuttal of the Kenneth Starr report, calling the investigation 'a hit-and-run smear campaign' that produced no proof of impeachable conduct.
News talk shows yesterday produced a volley of anger at Mr Clinton from leaders on Capitol Hill.
Calling the President's behaviour 'offensive, indefensible and reckless', Senate leader Trent Lott said impeachment proceedings were inevitable unless Mr Clinton stopped attacking the Starr report.
Asked on Fox Television whether he thought the House Judiciary Committee would vote for articles of impeachment, Senator Lott said: 'Unless something changes, I don't see how they avoid it.
'I would urge him to consider another tack - a more co-operative process. To say 'forgive me', while continuing to attack the Starr report in the way they are trying to do - that's inconsistent. If they continue to argue the legally accurate approach, that won't fly.' Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch - who said the President had called him yesterday morning to discuss the issue - also called for an end to the legal hair-splitting.
