Shortly after Mr Clinton began to be questioned by Mr Robert Bittman, a member of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's legal team, at the start of his testimony to the Grand Jury on August 17th, he read the following statement.
"When I was alone with Ms Lewinsky on certain occasions in early 1996 and once in early 1997, I engaged in conduct that was wrong.
"These encounters did not consist of sexual intercourse, they did not constitute sexual relations as I understood that term to be defined at my January 17, 1998, deposition [for the Paula Jones law suit] but they did involve inappropriate intimate contact.
"These inappropriate encounters ended at my insistence in early 1997. I also had occasional telephone conversations with Ms Lewinsky that included inappropriate sexual banter.
"I regret that what began as a friendship came to include this conduct and I take full responsibility for my actions.
"While I will provide the grand jury whatever other information I can, because of privacy considerations affecting my family, myself and others and in an effort to preserve the dignity of the office I hold, this is all I will say about the specifics of these particular matters.
"I will try to answer to the best of my ability other questions, including questions about my relationship with Ms Lewinsky, questions about my understanding of the term `sexual relations' as I understood it to be defined at my January 17, 1998, deposition, and questions concerning alleged subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice and intimidation of witnesses."