Monica Lewinsky to lift lid on her explosive sex scandal with Bill Clinton in drama series American Crime Story
THE scandalous affair between one-time White House intern Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton is being laid bare in drama series American Crime Story.
Titled "Impeachment", Lewinsky – whose headline-making trysts saw her pilloried as a "stupid bimbo" – is lifting the lid on their affair, as she is working as a producer on the show.
Lewinsky's affair with Clinton in the 1990s nearly brought down his presidency, and the public backlash resulted in her feeling like "the most humiliated woman in the world".
She added: "I deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton."
Five years ago, she told NBC: "To be called stupid and a s*** and a bimbo and ditzy, and to be taken out of context, it was excruciating."
Booksmart actress Beanie Feldstein will play Lewinsky, while Annaleigh Ashford will portray Paula Jones, who sued Clinton for sexual harassment.
The series is based on Jeffrey Toobin's best-seller A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story Of The Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down A President.
TV producer Ryan Murphy, who created the American Crime Story series, originally bought the rights to bring the book to TV in 2017 but admitted to having doubts about telling the story without Lewinsky's involvement.
Lewinsky was a 22-year-old White House intern when she had an affair with then 49-year-old Mr Clinton while he was US president between 1995 and 1997.
She was subjected to intense public scrutiny following what he called an "inappropriate relationship" and later admitted her mental health took a battering during the scandal.
Lewinsky recently told Vanity Fair that she had hesitated at joining the TV series, until Murphy showed "how dedicated he is to giving a voice to the marginalised in all of his brilliant work."
She added: "People have been co-opting and telling my part in this story for decades.
"In fact, it wasn't until the past few years that I've been able to fully reclaim my narrative."
This will be the third season of American Crime Story. Season one, titled The People v O J Simpson, explored the murder trial of O J Simpson.
Season two, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, featured the killing of the famed fashion designer.
Network FX's next chapter of American Crime Story dramatises Clinton's impeachment, focusing on Lewinsky, Linda Tripp and other women central to the scandal.
The miniseries will air within weeks of the 2020 presidential election.
Monica Lewinsky's affair with Bill Clinton
Allegations of womanising, extramarital affairs and abuse dogged Bill Clinton over the course of his political life, culminating in his 1989-99 impeachment and acquittal over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
He completed his second term in 2001.
Bill Clinton, then 49, and 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky started a sexual relationship in 1995.
Lewinsky claimed she had sexual encounters with the US President on nine occasions, until March 1997, and said that First Lady Hillary Clinton was at the White House for a portion of those.
She confided about the relationship to Linda Tripp - her defence department co-worker, who secretly recorded telephone conversations.
Tripp later discovered that Lewinsky had sworn an affidavit in the Paula Jones case - a former Arkansas state employee who was suing Clinton for sexual harassment.
Lewinsky had attempted to persuade Tripp to commit perjury who instead delivered the tapes to Kenneth Starr - who was investigating Clinton on other allegations.
The affair first came to light on the Drudge Report in 1998 before reaching the mainstream press.
Clinton was quick to deny the affair and even gave a White House press conference beside his wife stating that the allegations were false.
There was months of speculation but nothing could be definitely established as Lewinsky was unwilling to discuss the affair.
In July 1998, Lewinsky received total witness immunity in exchange for grand jury testament about her relationship with Clinton.
Clinton admitted the affair in taped grand jury testimony a few weeks later, stating he had an "improper physical relationship" with Lewinsky and later broadcast a televised statement nationally.
He also agreed to a £652,000 settlement with Arkansas state worker Paula Jones, who had accused him of exposing himself and making indecent propositions when he was governor.
The settlement included no apology or admission of guilt.
In an interview with National Geographic, Lewinsky recalled the day in 1998 when special prosecutor Kenneth Starr issued a report on the scandal, including vivid details about her affair with Clinton, as one of the worst in her life.
“I was a virgin to humiliation of that level, until that day,” Lewinsky said. “I mean it was just violation after violation.”