Chapter 478 They're all bad birds: The trouble has finally begun.

This White House sex scandal involving the US president would never have come to light.

The independent prosecutor who targeted him wasn't originally investigating his sex scandal, but rather the role the president and his wife played in a real estate deal from years ago—the Whitewater scandal.

But any male classmate with a story can always be found to have a lot of treasures if you dig deeper.

The President of the United States is an example of this.

No sooner had the independent prosecutor begun investigating the Whitewater scandal than a former Arkansas employee filed a civil lawsuit accusing the then-Governor of Arkansas, now the President of the United States, of sexually harassing her in 1991. This lawsuit directly led to the globally sensational White House sex scandal.

In February 1998, talking about this seemed a bit outdated.

The scandal broke in January of this year.

To recap the timeline, at the end of last year, on December 17, 1997, the woman involved in the White House sex scandal was subpoenaed by the lawyer of this former Arkansas employee.

Then on January 7, 1998, she signed an affidavit claiming that she had no sexual relationship with the president.

On January 12, her friend provided the office of the independent counsel investigating the president with tapes of her talking about her relationship with the president.

Four days later, the court authorized an independent prosecutor to investigate the former White House intern.

Just one day later, on January 17, the president testified in a case brought by a former Arkansas employee against her for sexual harassment, denying that she had had a sexual relationship with the former White House intern.

On January 19, the female intern's name appeared in the internet gossip column "The Drucker Report".

After two days of development, on January 21, multiple news organizations reported on the sexual relationship between the female intern and the president.

Without a doubt, sex scandals are always the fastest-spreading news. This incident caused a huge uproar in the United States.

So much so that on January 26, the US president, embroiled in scandal, had to come forward and publicly deny his relationship with the White House intern.

His wife also stood firmly by his side, declaring the accusations against her husband a massive right-wing conspiracy.

It's fair to say that this past month in the United States has been exceptionally eventful and lively.

As a result, many financial scholars have offered veiled criticism, arguing that the reason the Dow Jones Industrial Average did not rebound to 8,000 points after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points after New Year's Day, but instead remained hovering around 6,000 points, was because the scandal involving the president severely damaged investor confidence.

Starting with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, another topic emerged: the president's approval rating.

There's a saying in the US that as long as the Dow Jones Industrial Average is above 8,500 points, the president's approval rating will not fall below 55%.

The continued slump in the Dow Jones Industrial Average is hardly a cause for celebration for investors.

With the president's public announcement and the support of his wife, who is also a lawyer, the situation was finally resolved, and at least the Dow Jones Industrial Average did not continue to fall.

Just when everyone thought this sex scandal, like President Kremlin's previous scandals, would soon fade away, the emerging Internet clearly didn't let it go.

Netizens passionately wielded their keyboards, engaging in heated discussions about who was right and wrong in this scandal, and whether it was true or false.

In the comments section of The Drucker Report, the gossip column that first broke the scandal, people expressed their opinions.

Some people believe that as long as President Clinton and the White House intern were consensual, it wouldn't matter even if they had an affair.

The result immediately drew rebuttals: how much social experience can a young girl in her early twenties have? She's most easily fooled by older men.

She might mistakenly extend her admiration and love for America to her admiration for the president, and then misinterpret this admiration as romantic love, thus being deceived and believing that she is doing it willingly, or even that the other person loves her.

In reality, they were just treating her like a free plaything.

The president's biggest mistake in this matter was that, as an older person and a superior, he naturally had a responsibility to guide the other party to realize his own foolishness, instead of taking advantage of the young girl's innocence to satisfy his own greedy and shameless lust.

The two sides began to battle over President Klopp's moral standards.

The affirmative side maintains that the president's private life is harmless; his wife chose to believe in him and stand with him through the difficulties, so what right do outsiders have to interfere?

As a result, the opposing side seized on the loophole in this statement: if that's the case, then the president has already publicly sworn an oath in court, and if he lies, then he is in contempt of court and committing perjury.

Once they grasped this point, the opposing side pressed on relentlessly, asking the affirmative side: How serious is lying and perjury in court?

The affirmative side can't say it's not serious, can they? Moral issues and legal issues can still be distinguished.

Then the issue shifted from morality to law, and the question became: Did the president lie? Did he break the law?

This issue alone has been debated for days, and for almost the entire first half of February, the internet was buzzing with activity, with no shortage of topics to discuss.

Yang Tao is in the United States, waiting for the results of her stock investment plan. While busy traveling between various technology companies, she also made sure to express her opinions online.

She hoped it was all a lie, that it had never happened.

Because there's no doubt that if it were true, it would cause serious harm to the female intern. Her life would likely be forever entangled in this scandal, from which she could never escape.

When Yang Tao called her boss to report on her work, she mentioned this matter and sighed, "What will she do in the future?"

Given Krishnamurti's character, at least on the emerging Internet, everyone generally accepted that he was dishonest.

Oh, it's harmless. The world is always tolerant of men's sexual behavior, especially when he is a successful, so-called excellent man.

Yang Tao emphasized: "I don't think the female intern did the right thing, but the man can easily dismiss this with a simple 'womanizer,' but the woman is in big trouble."

Yes, yes, she is not innocent.

At 22 years old, having already graduated from university, being able to intern at the White House in the United States must mean that one's family is quite well-off.

Given this background, to say that she really doesn't understand anything and has no idea about the consequences of having an extramarital affair with a married male boss is to make someone an idiot.

This is the 1990s, not before Wang Xiao's time travel. Because of the delayed age of power transition, it's not unusual for people in their thirties or forties to call themselves "babies."

This kind of thinking doesn't apply to this era. After graduating from university, who treats you like a child anymore? Even you yourself think of yourself as a capable adult.

Wang Xiao understood Yang Tao's meaning. The White House intern was indeed wrong, but she shouldn't have to bear all the consequences, let alone double them.

But what can be done? It's already happened.

Wang Xiao could only say: "There are three ways. First, her future is exceptionally successful, even more successful than the president's. Success can cover up everything."

Pirate culture emphasizes the survival of the fittest.

"Second, forget all of this, go to another country and start a new life under an assumed name. There will always be all sorts of big events in the world, and new breaking news will overshadow the previous one."

No one is truly remembered forever; public attention always has its limits.

"Third, treat this as an opportunity, an opportunity to become famous worldwide. In the internet age, traffic equals money; the higher the traffic, the more money you make. Celebrities always get more opportunities; even being famous for being controversial is still fame, and their books can even make the bestseller list."

When Yang Tao heard the third point, she was completely dumbfounded. "You...you can do that?"

Wang Xiao didn't take it seriously: "So many people do so much drama just to attract public attention and become famous overnight. On a positive note, she's already famous all over the world."

If we don't think positively, what else can we do?

They didn't kill or commit arson, so they shouldn't have to die. But if a person wants to live, they have to find a way out.

Yang Tao is not a time traveler. As a native, she witnessed the early signs of the internet's prosperity and could not imagine things she had not experienced. She could not truly understand the influencer economy.

But she soon discovered that the boss seemed to be using this opportunity to advertise.

The forum was still in complete chaos.

Some people are explaining that committing perjury in court can be punished with up to five years in prison.

Some people are encouraging the parties involved in the incidents to write a book, promising to buy it and put them on the bestseller list.

But all these lively noises combined can't compare to a bet, because the stakes are so high.

One side of the bet mocked the United States, arguing that even if the president were proven to be lying and committing perjury, Americans wouldn't care. They claimed the US was a land of lies, and that it welcomed all sorts of liars.

Why did the waste management company and CUC International dare to commit financial fraud? And why was Arthur Andersen able to help them commit fraud with such impunity?

Because without buying and selling, there would be no harm. Americans like swindlers, so this land will see a constant stream of swindlers. This applies to both the business and political worlds.

Immediately, someone was enraged and demanded that he explain himself and produce evidence.

When did Americans start liking liars? President Nixon, who lied about the Watergate scandal, was still impeached and removed from office.

America is the most honest country; God would never allow us to lie.

The other side retorted: If the United States really likes honest people, then why was President Carter, who was truly honest, ousted after only one term? You just like smooth-talking liars like Carter.

When former President Carter left office in 1981, he was one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. However, in the 1990s, his reputation soared due to his dedication to philanthropy and his active efforts to promote peace, making him one of the most popular presidents in American history.

Using President Carter as an example is indeed quite offensive.

The back-and-forth battle between the two sides eventually turned into a bet: whether Americans could tolerate a president who disregarded the law and was a liar.

If the Americans can't stand it and oust him from office, then the person who proposed the bet will have to pay out a South African diamond.

If Americans tolerate this, then those who made the bet with them will have to publicly admit that America is a hypocritical country that favors liars.

The reason this bet has attracted so much attention from netizens is that in 1998, diamonds were genuinely valuable treasures, not something that would be worthless decades later.

Some netizens questioned the authenticity of the South African diamonds in the bet, and then suggested that the bettors post a link to "Ibuy.com", emphasizing that it is the largest online shopping website in South Africa, and that the South African specialties sold there, especially diamonds and gold, all come with certificates.

Yang Tao couldn't help but want to cover her forehead as she watched people on the internet go off-topic and start discussing South African specialties.

Her boss is truly her boss; any time and any event can become an opportunity for her boss to do business.

Because of the hype surrounding South African diamonds, the matter caused a huge uproar online and even attracted the attention of traditional media.

Many newspapers that had previously reported on the sex scandal between the US president and a White House intern continued to report on this matter.

They even broadcast it on television, treating it like news with a laugh.

It's true, sex scandals always grab people's attention.

The involvement of these traditional media outlets has further increased the brand awareness of "WoBuy.com".

Yang Tao was willing to bet that the website's page views and purchase data were skyrocketing. She saw a wood carving that had only sold 100+ units before its sales surged to over 10,000 in just one day.

Sure enough, when it comes to shopping, once you see something you like, your credit card is in danger.

Compared to her boss's decisive actions, her and Zhou Liang's acquisition in the United States was progressing at a snail's pace.

The investment in Micron's shares goes without saying; the offshore capital packaging is indeed complete, but it must await review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). As for when the review will be completed, and what the outcome will be, only God knows.

As for the other companies they proposed, they need to learn more about them and continue negotiating. In short, there's a lot going on, but you can't see any progress.

Amidst this chaos, the only thing that could bring her some psychological comfort was the sounds on the Internet.

Thank goodness, not everyone was busy insulting the White House intern.

On the contrary, some people are worried about her.

Some people were exasperated, calling her foolish and saying she'd been completely deceived by the older man. She thought he loved her, but he'd long ago seen her as a nuisance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent her to the Pentagon.

Hey, that's definitely something an old man would do. Don't forget, he's the President of the United States; he's incredibly powerful.

The other person has dumped you, aren't you going to think about what you're going to do in the future?

Silly girl, you're under the watch of the independent prosecutor. You lied in court, that's perjury, and that's a five-year prison sentence. What are you going to do?

You think you can get away with this? What a pipe dream!

The independent prosecutor has been working on this for so long; if they couldn't catch the big fish, they'd definitely take down this small fry first. The fact that this matter came to light means they definitely have substantial evidence, both witness testimonies and physical evidence.

Aren't you going to take action now? Find a lawyer right away!

Then the forum discussion went off-topic again, focusing on how much it costs to hire a lawyer and whether it could bankrupt the family.

That's terrible! If you don't hire a reliable lawyer, you'd better prepare to go to jail.

Some are convinced that the president has arranged a lawyer for her.

But she was immediately met with ridicule: "What good is that! You have to obey whoever pays your beck and call. A lawyer listens to whoever pays him; how could he possibly protect her interests in a critical moment? He'll definitely make her the first person to sacrifice in case anything happens, to protect the president's interests."

Then some people started lamenting the female intern's foolishness.

Cooperate with the prosecutor immediately! Find a way to protect your own interests. Otherwise, who else do you want to protect?

Think about it, the other party is the President of the United States. He has so much power. Even if he is found guilty of perjury, it's a minor matter and won't cause any big problems.

You think he's an ordinary person, just like you? You're going to jail.

The sooner you settle this matter, the more likely you are to write a book about it, capitalize on the hype, and use the royalties to pay off your lawyer's fees.

Throughout the entire process, the White House intern, who was at the center of the storm, never stood up or made any statements, and there was no sign of her defending herself on the internet.

However, the former Arkansas employee who sued the president for sexual harassment gave an interview, emphasizing that any lie he told was hurting himself and also hurting the innocent woman. This was repeated abuse against her.

She bravely stood up and sued the president precisely because she hoped this bullying caused by unequal status would stop.

Her continued outspokenness has kept the White House sex scandal, which should have faded into oblivion with the parties involved and been forgotten by time, a focus of discussion among Americans.

When Yang Tao put down her newspaper and went to find Zhou Liang, she talked about the matter and said with deep emotion, "She must be under a lot of pressure right now."

Zhou Liang was pondering the situation when he casually replied, "Then the Republicans have achieved their goal."

With such a huge incident, the Republican Party is bound to try and take a bite out of this Democratic president.

He had personally witnessed how his boss manipulated online public opinion when shorting the Thai baht, so he was absolutely certain that the Republican Party had definitely deployed the online trolls his boss had mentioned.

Otherwise, given the sexually liberal attitude in the United States, this wouldn't be a big deal for ordinary people.

Yang Tao emphasized: "This is not about whether he cheated or not, it's about him lying, committing perjury in court, and showing contempt of court."

Zhou Liang shrugged and spread his hands: "In this kind of thing, unless the person involved admits it, how would outsiders know whether it's true or false? Even paparazzi need to take photos to be considered evidence. Unless they were also taking pictures with their cameras nearby."

That's obviously unlikely.

Unless the president and this female intern are perverts and insist on making themselves the protagonists of a pornographic film to reminisce about later.

However, even if they did film it, the videotape probably wouldn't reach the independent prosecutor.

After all, the fact that the US president was able to become president proves that he is definitely not an idiot, and he would not put himself in such a low-level danger.

Just when everyone was gossiping, this perplexing case suddenly took an unexpected turn.

On March 16, news first circulated online that the former White House intern who had previously insisted that she had no relationship with the president had suddenly changed her mind. She had reached an agreement with the independent counsel investigating the president and obtained full immunity.

Oh, it's something like a tainted witness.

That doesn't matter. In fact, very few people really think she should go to jail for years for this. She was clearly implicated.

Importantly, she handed over a crucial piece of evidence to the independent prosecutor, evidence that could definitively condemn the president—a blue dress stained with the president's sperm.

Oh my god!

This is such an important news story! Newspapers, radio, and television are going crazy, and everyone online is practically smashing their keyboards.

My God! The president lied! The president committed perjury! He defied the court!

Some people said that this was just a publicity stunt, and who knows whose tadpole it actually is?

The person who spoke then drew ridicule from many netizens on the forum.

DNA testing? Are you still living in the dinosaur era? Don't you know DNA testing is available now?

Amidst everyone's laughter, curses, and gossipy anticipation, five days later, the DNA test results finally came out: the semen stain on that blue dress belonged to His Excellency the President of the United States.

My goodness, this is actually true.

Everyone was just watching the show, but somehow they discovered some shocking gossip.

That's so embarrassing. He's the President of the United States, the universally acknowledged leader of the world. His private affairs have been completely exposed.

The forum was in an uproar once again.

The netizen who made the bet earlier started pressing him with all sorts of questions. The netizen who agreed, what is your attitude now? Are you still blindly defending the president?

Some of the president's most loyal supporters were in extreme distress, completely unable to believe it was true, and immediately turned the tables, claiming it was all a lie and a slander against the president.

Our President is a man of high moral character and has a happy and fulfilling family life; he would never betray his family.

Others argue that this is a matter of personal privacy and shouldn't be discussed openly. A president becomes president because of his job, not his private life!

Wang Xiao stared at the computer screen, clicking his tongue repeatedly.

Tsk tsk tsk, how their faces have changed so much.

When running for president, a happy and fulfilling family life was a plus for him. Now, the focus shifts.

So why do adults laugh at kids for idolizing celebrities? Look, is there really a difference between the political arena and the entertainment industry?

Ivanov worked overtime until he was exhausted, and finally managed to get home. He changed into his pajamas, leaned over to look at the computer, and asked with great curiosity, "When is he finally going to admit it?"

Well, it might sound a bit gossipy, but no one in the same industry doesn't pay attention to their peers.

The White House in Moscow can now keep an eye on the White House's movements in Washington.

During lunch together, Soskowitz discussed with him how this matter would ultimately unfold.

Wang Xiao shook his head: "I guess he's still making a last-ditch effort, hoping for a turnaround?"

Ivanov nodded: "That's right. Right now, it's a back-and-forth struggle between law, political career, and personal reputation, weighing the pros and cons."

Wang Xiao laughed and said casually, "Actually, he doesn't need to be so nervous. The Americans won't really take this seriously. It's completely different from Watergate."

She also joked, "Why is everyone so keen to praise the loyalty of rich and powerful men to their families? Because they are rare, that's why they are praised."

Ivanov instantly became alert: "Don't expect me to cheat on you so you can just walk away. I'm not that stupid!"

Although he couldn't guarantee that his loyalty would be reciprocated by the king's loyalty, that's just how people are; sincerity doesn't always guarantee sincerity in return, and you can't expect anything from others.

But he knew one thing clearly: if he cheated on his wife, Wang would leave without a word.

She was never one to linger.

From Wang's perspective, the reason they were able to maintain this relatively stable relationship was largely due to her sense of loyalty—her willingness not to actively disrupt the balance.

But she would never stop him from disrupting the balance.

Therefore, Ivan was at least 70% certain that if he didn't do anything reckless, they could probably continue living like this.

Therefore, he absolutely cannot cheat on his wife.

Yes, yes, he gets distracted when he sees hot girls with great figures.

That's how people are; for example, when they see money, no one can truly remain unmoved.

Does a restless mind lead to unbridled self-expression?

No, no, no, think about it. You love money, but would you dare to target armored trucks and bank vaults?

You don't dare, because you can't afford the consequences of taking action.

He didn't dare, because he couldn't bear the consequences of cheating.

Those who cheat are essentially indifferent to the consequences.

He doesn't have their courage or confidence, so he will keep himself in check.

Ivanov glared at her fiercely, pressing his forehead against hers: "Don't even dream about it. I won't let you find any fault with me."

Wang Xiao sighed, "Alright, alright, stop with your paranoia. I won't go back to South Africa this month. I'll wait until spring in Moscow before I leave, okay?"

Ivanov relaxed a little. From his perspective, he naturally wanted the king to stay by his side.

But he knew perfectly well that it was impossible. Wang needed to work, and she needed her own space.

“Okay.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll go to South Africa when I take my vacation in July.”

That's life—constant separation and constant reunion.

Wang Xiao stroked her head, a vague thought surfacing in his mind: Let it be, let it be, it doesn't seem so bad.

How different people's joys and sorrows are! Even when we are in the same place, it is still like this, let alone when we are separated by mountains and seas.

These two weeks have probably been the darkest period in the life of the President of Washington.

After weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, he finally accepted questioning by a grand jury on April 6 and delivered a televised address to the entire American public that evening, admitting to having an "inappropriate relationship" with the intern.

Yes, not a sexual relationship, but an inappropriate relationship.

Tsk tsk, after listening to his entire speech, Wang Xiao's reaction was summed up in two words: Old Deng!

The kind that's entirely derogatory.

Did you think he was confessing? Was he apologizing? No, what he said was a carefully prepared legal and political statement.

He acknowledged inappropriate intimate relationships but consistently avoided the word "sexual relationship."

He did not sincerely repent for his shameless behavior, making it clear that he would never engage in internal strife, but only lash out at others, fiercely attacking the independent prosecutor who exposed all of this.

To call these investigations expensive, partisan investigations implies that they are a setup.

He then emphasized that he did not lie in the sexual harassment case and that he remained innocent in this matter.

He expressed remorse for his actions and the harm he caused to his family, friends, and country, but he made no mention of saying sorry.

It's as if these harms weren't the result of his actions, but rather that the prosecutor investigating him unearthed them and caused all of this.

Finally, he urged the public to turn their attention back to national affairs, assuring them that he would continue to fulfill his presidential duties.

Honestly, after listening to the entire statement, Wang Xiao seriously suspected that all the subsequent PR articles from various celebrities, especially male celebrities, were based on this statement.

Why does this routine seem so familiar?

But the reason it's repeatedly cited is because it really works.

At least after the statement was released, the public reaction was not one-sided; on the contrary, he actually gained a lot of new supporters.

These supporters believe that the president's private life should not be overly scrutinized, and that the public should be concerned with his governing abilities. The repeated nitpicking of his private life damages America's image. As president of the United States, enduring such prolonged public criticism is already a cruel punishment.

That's enough, what more do you want? Are you trying to drive me to my death?

Of course, these remarks drew harsh criticism from opponents.

The president himself is a symbol of the United States, and for the president to commit perjury and obstruct justice is a complete desecration of the law and the presidential office.

Was his apology made of gold? Did he think a few words of repentance were enough to settle the matter?

God, God would never allow such an absurd thing to happen!

A new round of online battles has sprung up, with both sides expressing their opinions and typing away so hard they're practically sparking fire.

As the argument escalated, one voice gradually gained the upper hand: this matter was more of a family affair than a national affair.

If the First Lady has no objection to matters concerning the crotch, how can anyone else presume to interfere?

These words angered another group of people, with some vehemently stating: "Of course the First Lady has no objection; she has always been at the forefront of harming young women."

Many people online disagree, believing that such remarks are misdirecting anger towards innocent people.

It is well known that the First Lady has always been dedicated to protecting the rights of women and children, so how did that become harming young women?

From any perspective, she is an innocent victim in this scandal.

"Really? Then you might want to look at how she brutally murdered a 12-year-old rape victim in 1975, helping a 41-year-old rapist escape legal punishment."

"Protecting the rights of women and children? God, what an absurd joke, a joke from hell. Her protection is nothing more than being an accomplice, letting rapists go unpunished!"

Some netizens were confused and didn't understand what was being discussed.

But the internet is full of talented people, and someone quickly found the details of the case.

To put it simply, when the First Lady was defending Thomas Taylor, who was accused of raping a 12-year-old girl, in 1975, she claimed that the victim was a habitual liar and that the sexual relations were consensual.

Good heavens, 12 years old is just too shocking.

What can a 12-year-old understand? And what does her willingness even mean?

Some people emphasized the legal provisions, while others thought the First Lady had gone too far.

However, some people have presented evidence that Taylor passed the lie detector test while the victim failed, suggesting that the truth of the matter is not in question.

Lawyers are supposed to protect the rights of their clients.

Amidst the uproar, a recording suddenly appeared online.

In this recording, the First Lady's laughter during the interview was truly melodious.

She kept laughing as she talked about this heinous case, and even said directly: "He (rapist Taylor) actually passed the lie detector test, which made me completely stop believing in lie detectors after that."

The recording caused a huge uproar as soon as it was released.

Those with keen senses suddenly realized that the storm raging against the US president might only be truly beginning now.

Birds of a feather flock together. The president and his wife are both addicted to lying, ruthless, and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

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Note: In actual history, on January 26, 1998, Clinton publicly denied his sexual relationship with Lewinsky, declaring, "I did not have sex with that woman." Hillary Clinton also stated that the accusations against her husband were a "huge right-wing conspiracy." On April 1, the Jones case was dismissed. On July 28, 1998, Lewinsky was granted immunity and surrendered a blue dress stained with semen. DNA testing confirmed that the traces on the dress matched Clinton's. On August 17, Clinton admitted on national television to having an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky.

On September 11, 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to accept Starr's report. On December 19, Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. On February 12, 1999, the Senate voted to acquit Clinton.

Furthermore, the recordings from the Taylor case, dating back to Hillary Clinton's interviews in the 1980s, had been kept in the University of Arkansas library. In 2014, a reporter from the Washington Free Beacon obtained these recordings from a special collection at the University of Arkansas library. These recordings, made during interviews with Clinton by journalist Roy Reed between 1983 and 1987, had never been publicly released before. In 2016, after Clinton announced she was considering running for president, these long-forgotten recordings were made public. In the recordings, Clinton implied she knew Taylor was guilty and laughed repeatedly at details of the case, such as the polygraph test results and the loss of evidence, drawing public criticism.