Clinton had affair 'because he could'

Bill Clinton has said he had a White House affair with Monica Lewinsky “just because I could”.

In a TV interview to coincide with the release of his autobiography, My Life, Clinton called the affair with the buxom intern “a terrible moral error” and sought to explain how his family handled the crisis.

He told veteran CBS reporter Dan Rather: “I did something for the worst possible reason. Just because I could. I think that’s just about the most morally indefensible reason anybody could have for doing anything.”

Clinton said that he and his family had sought counselling while his wife, Hillary, decided whether to remain married to him in the aftermath of the 1999 Senate vote on his impeachment.

He said through counselling his family was able to overcome the effects of the scandal.

The former president called his impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice “illegitimate” and an “abuse of power”, but said he never considered resigning.

“The whole battle was a badge of honour," he said.

The one-hour interview will be broadcast in the US on Sunday. His autobiography goes on sale on June 22.