In 1998, Bill Clinton was accused of having an intimate relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Although he initially denied the allegations, Clinton eventually admitted that he had an "improper physical relationship" with Lewinsky. As a result of his early denials, in which he misled people as to the nature of the relationship, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was subsequently tried in the Senate and acquitted on both counts. President Clinton apologized to the nation for his improper behavior and, in spite of the scandal, continued to have unprecedented popular approval ratings for the duration of his presidency.