US Senate support for a speedy trial of President Clinton, followed by some form of official censure, but not removal from office, gathered momentum yesterday. "We'll have a trial, there will be censure, and hopefully then there will be closure," said the influential Democratic Senator, Mr Patrick Moynihan, speaking on the NBC television show, Meet The Press.
Though Mr Moynihan is a member of Mr Clinton's party, he is also known as independent-minded and is widely respected by both Democratic and Republican colleagues.
CNN reported that he and Mr Robert Byrd of West Virginia were working on a censure proposal that would draw Republican support and pass the test of constitutional validity.
"We have enough evidence to make a decision without a long, protracted trial," said the Democratic senator, Mr John Breaux, on CBS's Face The Nation, adding that he favoured a resolution officially rebuking Mr Clinton.
The Republican senator, Mr Orrin Hatch, agreed.
"We probably have to begin a trial, and then if it shows there are people who will never vote for impeachment . . . then we have to do what [Breaux] suggested," he said. "Perhaps censure may be the answer," said Mr Hatch, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. "If on our side we cannot convict, then we are going to have to do the next best thing: condemn his actions."
Two Republican senators, Mr John Ashcroft and Mr Rick Santorum, agreed that a trial of the President must be opened in the Senate, but that a quick conclusion was desirable.
"There's no need for a long trial here," said Mr Ashcroft, also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr Clinton "deserves a speedy trial just like every other citizen, and America deserves it, too," he said, speaking on ABC's This Week yesterday.
"We do need to move to a trial. That's our constitutional responsibility," agreed Mr Santorum on the same show, pointing out, however, that a simple majority in the Senate could adjourn such a trial soon after it had begun.
Some senators have suggested the Senate could fulfil its constitutional responsibility by opening a trial, but then either concluding it quickly or even interrupting it to consider censure.