HILLARY Clinton said on Sunday that her husband’s presidential affair with Monica Lewinsky wasn’t an abuse of power — because the then-22-year-old White House intern “was an adult.”

The assertion by Mrs Clinton was particularly stunning given the current #MeToo movement she has championed, not to mention that her presidential campaign centred on her becoming America’s first female commander in chief if elected, reports the New York Post.
Asked if her husband should have resigned the presidency after the affair came to light, Mrs Clinton told Sunday Morning in the US, “Absolutely not.”

Pressed on whether Mr Clinton had committed an abuse of power — since a president of the United States couldn’t have a consensual relationship with an intern — she added, “No, no” because Lewinsky “was an adult.”

Mr Clinton was 49 at the time.

Mrs Clinton then tried to deflect attention away from the issue and began focusing on US President Donald Trump and his many allegations of sexual misconduct that were levelled before the 2016 election.

“Let me ask you this: Where’s the investigation of the current incumbent, against whom numerous allegations have been made and which he dismisses, denies and ridicules?” Mrs Clinton said.

As for her husband, she said, “So there was an investigation, and it — as I believe — came out in the right place.”

The US House voted to impeach Mr Clinton for lying under oath and obstructing justice, but the US Senate later acquitted him, and he remained in office.

The interview comes as a record-breaking number of women are seeking office this year in direct response to Mr Trump’s election and buoyed by the MeToo movement.

Despite the surge of candidates, Mrs Clinton said sexism is still front and centre in politics.

She pointed out Brett Kavanaugh’s aggressive questioning of Democratic Sensators Dianne Feinstein and Amy Klobuchar during his US Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

“He didn’t do that to the men,” Mrs Clinton said.

Mrs Clinton said sexism is a reason for her loss to Mr Trump in 2016, in addition to Russian election meddling and the investigation into her e-mails.

“If you watched the way Trump debated me, it was just imbued with sexism. Making fun of me for preparing. Well, you know, that’s the old, like, ‘Oh, yeah, the girl in the class who’s always prepared. I don’t need to be prepared,’” Mrs Clinton said.

During the 2016 campaign, Mr Trump faced a damning leak of an Access Hollywood video where he was caught on tape bragging about grabbing women’s genitalia. His response before a 2016 debate was to hold a press conference with several women who accused Mr Clinton of sexual misconduct or assault and accused Mrs Clinton of trying to silence them.

Mrs Clinton said she played “no role” in criticising the character of the women who accused her husband of sexual misconduct.

“No role,” Mrs Clinton said. “I take responsibility for my life and my actions.”