EMERSON WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will vote to impeach President Clinton despite pleas from White House staff and actor Robert De Niro.

The Cape Girardeau Republican said Monday she will vote for at least two of the four articles of impeachment approved last week by the House Judiciary Committee.

Emerson said she would vote for the two articles of impeachment that accuse the president of perjury.

The president is accused of lying to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's grand jury on Aug. 17 and in his testimony in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Paula Jones.

"I think it has been pretty clear from the beginning that perjury would definitely hold up," she said.

Emerson hasn't decided to support two other articles of impeachment. Those accuse the president of obstructing justice and abusing his power.

She said she would read the Judiciary Committee report before deciding on the latter two articles of impeachment.

The House is scheduled to begin debate on the impeachment articles on Thursday.

The House will decide whether to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

Emerson discussed the impending impeachment vote in a telephone interview while traveling in the Bootheel.

She said she had heard from two or three White House staff people who wanted to know if she would support censure.

Like many other Republicans in the House, Emerson won't support censure.

She doesn't think censure is legal under the Constitution.

Emerson said she was told by her staff that De Niro had called her Washington office asking to speak to her.

She didn't return the telephone call.

Emerson said the president has refused to admit he lied under oath about his sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

"The fact of the matter, is the president has, I think, blatantly and very arrogantly disregarded the rule of law," she said. "I think he has shown a complete lack of respect for the position of the presidency."

Democrats have said public opinion polls show the American people don't want the president impeached, but Emerson said decisions about impeachment shouldn't be made strictly on the basis of public opinion polls.

Emerson said many constituents in her 8th District favor impeachment.

She said about 90 percent of the telephone calls she has received on the issue are from people who support impeachment.

The final decision ultimately rests with House members.

"At some point, it becomes a vote of conscience," she said.

Impeachment critics have suggested there aren't sufficient votes in the Senate to remove the president from office, but Emerson said House members shouldn't be concerned about Clinton's fate in the Senate.

She said the House's sole role is decide if articles of impeachment should be sent to the Senate.