Monica Lewinsky Breaks Silence On Clinton Affair, Finally Dishes Dirt

Not much has been heard from Monica Lewinsky since the Bill Clinton era sex scandal that rocked America — however, the generally quiet former White House intern is speaking up in a new issue of Vanity Fair; speaking candidly about her 15 minutes of fame.

When Monica Lewinsky’s name became a household phrase, the young woman was known for one thing and one thing only: an affair with President Bill Clinton, one that gridlocked Washington for over a year.

Monica is now 40, and nearly two decades have passed since she was reluctantly thrust into the limelight after a poor decision to confide in Linda Tripp. Almost 20 years on, Lewinsky says in the piece:

“It’s time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress… I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened.”

Lewinsky is first to admit she’s been both camera and interview shy in the intervening years, but she also explains why now is the time she chose to step forward and discuss the affair that caused so much intrigue and activity in Washington.

In her Vanity Fair writing, Monica explains:

“[I was so] silent, in fact, that the buzz in some circles has been that the Clintons must have paid me off; why else would I have refrained from speaking out? I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth… [it’s time to stop] tiptoeing around my past—and other people’s futures. I am determined to have a different ending to my story. I’ve decided, finally, to stick my head above the parapet so that I can take back my narrative and give a purpose to my past. (What this will cost me, I will soon find out.)”

Lewinsky doesn’t seem to be totally forgiving of the Clinton administration following the massive brouhaha, and she adds:

“… my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any ‘abuse’ came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position.”

And of her decision to speak out, she explains the suicide of Tyler Clementi was a driving factor:

“[Lewinsky’s mother] was reliving 1998, when she wouldn’t let me out of her sight. She was replaying those weeks when she stayed by my bed, night after night, because I, too, was suicidal. The shame, the scorn, and the fear that had been thrown at her daughter left her afraid that I would take my own life—a fear that I would be literally humiliated to death.”

Vanity Fair has a lengthy Monica Lewinsky teaser post over on their site.

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