Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday he understood public anger over an interview he recently gave in which he claimed he didn’t owe Monica Lewinsky a private apology and, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, that he wouldn’t change how he handled their extramarital affair.
“When I saw the interview, I thought that because they had to distill it and it looked like I was saying I didn’t apologize and I had no intention to. And I was mad at me. And not for the first time,” Clinton told CBS’ “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert Tuesday.
“It wasn’t my finest hour,” he continued, referring to the interview. “I still believe this #MeToo movement is long overdue, necessary, and should be supported.”
TONIGHT: Stephen offers @BillClinton the opportunity for a do-over regarding a question he was asked in an interview earlier this week. #LSSC #BillClinton pic.twitter.com/vgHSWOpY6N
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) June 5, 2018
Clinton appeared on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday to promote his novel, The President is Missing with James Patterson.
The 42nd president angered supporters and critics alike when he said he didn’t need to privately apologize to Lewinsky over her treatment after their affair became public, adding that he wouldn’t approach the scandal any differently had it happened in the #MeToo era because he had been exonerated by the facts.
On Monday night, Clinton took the opportunity during another book tour event to apologize publicly again.
“I meant it then and I meant it now. I apologize to my family, to Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people,” he said Monday at the New York Public Library.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Bill Clinton’s “finest hour” remark was in reference to his recent interview and not his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
