As the US Senate prepared to acquit President Clinton in his impeachment trial, Republicans charged him with plotting "revenge" on his principal accusers.
The 100 senators continued their deliberations behind closed doors yesterday but without any likelihood that there would be the required two-thirds majority to convict and remove the President. Instead, there was increasing speculation that there would not be even a simple majority on the two charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Expectations that the Senate would have reached a vote yesterday disappeared as senators used their full 15-minute allocations of speaking time. Senator Robert Bennett of Utah told reporters that "fanny fatigue is beginning to set in".
The vote is expected in open session some time today.
President Clinton has been working on a statement which he may deliver in person in the Rose Garden after the verdict is announced or issued in written form. He is expected to express regret for what he has brought on the country, his family and friends and his determination to use the rest of his term to bring in reforms in social security, education and other areas.
Republicans reacted angrily yesterday to a report in the New York Times that Mr Clinton is so "furious" at Republicans in the House of Representatives over his impeachment that "he has vowed to mount an all-out offensive to knock out many of his foes and win back the House for Democrats in 2000".
Further Republican anxiety was created by the announcement by the Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, that she was considering investigating Mr Kenneth Starr, the Independent Counsel whose inquiry led to Mr Clinton's trial. It has been alleged that Mr Starr misled Ms Reno by not disclosing information to her when requesting permission from her to investigate.