Chronology of the Paula Jones case



Paula Corbin Jones's sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton was dismissed in 1998. These are the key events in the case, which lasted four years. May 9, 1991

Bill Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, allegedly asks a state trooper to summon Paula Jones, a low-level state employee to his room at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. According to Mrs Jones affidavit, he dropped his trousers and, alluding to his genitals, asked her to "kiss it". May 6, 1994



Paula Jones files a formal complaint against President Clinton alleging sexual harassment and defamation of character. June 10, 1994

State trooper Danny Ferguson says that he conducted Paula Jones to Mr Clinton's hotel room but disputes other key allegations against the president. He says that Mrs Jones had called Mr Clinton sexy, volunteered her phone number and offered to be his girlfriend. October 1, 1994

President Clinton offers to settle the lawsuit. He concedes that he may have met Mrs Jones in a hotel room and that he regretted "untrue assertions" made about her. January 11, 1997

Mr Clinton's lawyers argue before the US Supreme Court that to allow the case to go forward while he is in office would undermine the institution of the presidency. May 27, 1997

The US Supreme Court votes unanimously that Paula Jones should be allowed to proceed with her sexual harassment suit. The media hail the decision as one proving that the president is not above the law. June 1, 1997

Mr Clinton's lawyer, Robert Bennett, offers $700,000 (£430,000) to settle the case out of court. He insists the president will not apologise or admit propositioning her in 1991. July 3, 1997

In his first formal response to the lawsuit, Mr Clinton "adamantly" denies Paula Jones's allegations. September 8, 1997



Paula Jones lawyers quit the case. Sources close to the team say they resigned after Mrs Jones turned down the $700,000 settlement because it did not include an apology. September 14-15, 1997

The US tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service, decides to audit Paula Jones's income tax returns. The White House denies that the audit is politically motivated, calling the allegation "certifiably crazy". October 7, 1997

President Clinton's attorney denies that the president has any sort of "distinguishing characteristics" on his penis that Paula Jones earlier described. Another lawyer in the case says he is prepared to turn the tables by investigating Mrs Jones's past sex life. November 24, 1997

Paula Jones amends her lawsuit by dropping defamation of character as a claim. This puts her past sex life off limits. January 11, 1998

Mrs Jones's lawyers present a settlement proposal in the area of $2 million. January 17, 1998

Mr Clinton gives a video-taped deposition in the presence of Mrs Jones and both teams of lawyers. The tape could be used as evidence in court. February 18, 1998

President Clinton asks Judge Susan Webber Wright to throw out Paula Jones's suit, arguing it is not backed up by evidence and could set a damaging precedent for future presidents. March 14, 1998

Paula Jones accuses Mr Clinton and his staff of engaging in a vast enterprise to suppress evidence in the case. Her lawyers argue that the case should go to trial in May as scheduled. March 20, 1998



President Clinton's legal team announces that it will release a "sex file" filled with information of " a sexual nature about Paula Jones." Later that day, attorneys reverse their decision. April 1, 1998

Judge Susan Webber Wright dismisses Paula Jones's suit against Mr Clinton. In her decision, she writes that "the plaintiffs' allegations fall far short of the rigorous standards for establishing a claim of outrage under Arkansas law." Mr Clinton says he is "pleased." Paula Jones's lawyers consider an appeal. November 1998 Bill Clinton agrees to pay Paula Jones $850,000 to drop her case. July 1999 Bill Clinton ordered to pay Paula Jones's lawyers nearly $90,000 to compensate for false testimony about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. July 2000 Legal action starts in the United States to disbar President Clinton from ever practising as a lawyer again in his home state of Arkansas.