Filegate exposed improper White House access to FBI background files, prompting multiple congressional and independent counsel investigations into potential political misuse.
Key Facts
- Files improperly accessed
- Several hundred individuals' FBI background reports
- Key figure
- Craig Livingstone, Office of Personnel Security director
- Controversy surfaced
- June 1996
- Independent Counsel exoneration
- Kenneth Starr exonerated Clinton and First Lady in 1998
- Final report issued
- Robert Ray found no credible evidence of criminal activity, 2000
- Judicial Watch lawsuit dismissed
- Federal judge dismissed related lawsuit in 2010
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In 1993 and 1994, Craig Livingstone, director of the White House's Office of Personnel Security, improperly requested and received FBI security-clearance background reports on several hundred individuals without obtaining required permission, covering many former employees of Republican administrations.
When the improper file requests became public in June 1996, the revelation sparked intense political and press scrutiny. Allegations emerged that senior White House officials and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton may have sought the files for political gain and may have authorized Livingstone's hiring despite his qualifications being questioned.
Livingstone resigned under criticism. The House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Whitewater Independent Counsel all investigated. By 2000, Independent Counsel Robert Ray concluded there was no credible evidence of criminal activity or improper conduct by any senior White House figure. A Judicial Watch lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2010.