And the grand jury supplied a "road map" of evidence to the House Judiciary Committee, considering impeachment.

It is hard for Congress to consider impeachment when the damning facts have been concealed, and the subordinates lie about them when questioned.

The House convened on December 17, 1998, to consider a resolution of impeachment (H.Res.

Conyers filed a resolution on December 18, 2005 to create an investigative committee to consider impeachment.

The juicy stuff about Watergate has long been public, published by the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 when it was considering impeachment.

The Democrats argued that the President's actions with Ms. Lewinsky were of a personal nature and that it was wrong for the House to consider impeachment.

While Johnson's survival deterred members of Congress from considering impeachment in Watergate, Nixon's ouster has had the opposite effect, emboldening Clinton's foes.

Remember, the Judiciary Committee was told to consider impeachment or any other recommendation.

The NYT says it even stronger: "It is now politically inconceivable that Congress will consider impeachment."

Darryl McMiller, a political science professor at the University of Hartford, said the shift in public opinion has sent a signal to lawmakers who are considering impeachment.