President Clinton is preparing a statement to the nation to mark his expected acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, which could end today. The 100 senators yesterday continued their deliberations on their verdict behind closed doors.
It is now certain that there will not be the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict and remove the President from office. Several Republican senators have said publicly that they will vote against the two articles of impeachment charging Mr Clinton with perjury and obstruction of justice.
There is now speculation that there may not be even a simple majority voting to convict the President. Republican Senator James Jeffords of Vermont announced yesterday that he would vote against both articles. The President had committed shameful acts but his offences "do not reach the high standard of impeachment," the senator said.
The White House is said to be undecided on whether the President should address the nation on television or issue a written statement. He is expected to express regret for what he has caused and at the same time urge the country to look to the future.
Republicans fear that the President will hail the expected acquittal as a vindication and proof that he should never have been impeached over his affair with Ms Monica Lewinsky.
But the President's press secretary, Mr Joe Lockhart, has already insisted that the White House will be a "gloat-free zone" when the impeachment trial ends this week.
Before the Senate went into closed session yesterday morning, the majority leader, Senator Trent Lott, said that they were aiming to have the final votes by 10 p.m. tonight Irish time. But if necessary, the deliberations would continue until tomorrow.