Bill Clinton was disbarred
| Bill Clinton was disbarred | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "Bill Clinton was disbarred as a lawyer because of the Lewinsky scandal." | |
| Domain | Government, Law & Courts |
| Tactic | False Context |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 2001 |
| Origin | Common shorthand in political commentary after Clinton left office |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Government, Law & Courts | |
Bill Clinton is frequently described as "disbarred." He was not formally disbarred by any court. He accepted a five-year suspension of his Arkansas law license in a negotiated settlement, and he resigned from the US Supreme Court bar while facing possible disbarment there.
What the evidence shows
- Arkansas settlement. On January 19, 2001, his last full day in office, Clinton agreed with Independent Counsel Robert Ray to a five-year suspension of his Arkansas license and a $25,000 fine. He admitted that he had knowingly given evasive and misleading answers in the Paula Jones deposition. In exchange, Ray agreed not to prosecute him.
- Supreme Court bar. On October 1, 2001, the US Supreme Court suspended Clinton from practicing before it and gave him 40 days to show why he should not be disbarred. He resigned from the Supreme Court bar in November 2001 instead.
- Practical effect. The two outcomes ended his ability to practice law, but neither was a formal order of disbarment.
Why it matters
"Disbarred" sounds like a technicality, but it is a specific legal sanction Clinton avoided by settling and resigning. The accurate version is still a serious professional penalty for false testimony, and it does not need exaggeration.
Sources
- The New York Times, "Clinton Admits Misleading Testimony, Avoids Charges in Lewinsky Inquiry," January 20, 2001.
- Supreme Court of the United States, order In re Discipline of Clinton, October 1, 2001.
- Associated Press, "Clinton Resigns From Supreme Court Bar," November 9, 2001.