Jones v. Clinton

In 1991, Arkansas Governor William Clinton (defendant) allegedly inappropriately touched and made offensive comments to Paula Jones (plaintiff) while in a hotel room in Little Rock, Arkansas. Jones alleged that she was told by Danny Ferguson, a state police officer, that Clinton wanted to see her in his hotel room. According to Jones, after she arrived in the room, the pair engaged in small talk, during which Clinton mentioned being friends with Jones’s superior at the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (AIDC). Clinton then unexpectedly took Jones’s hand and pulled her toward him. Jones retreated, but Clinton followed, making statements about her appearance. Clinton then put his hand on Jones’s leg and bent down to kiss her neck. Jones again retreated, telling Clinton that she was not that kind of girl. Jones moved to sit on a couch near the door. Clinton then sat down and exposed his genitals to Jones. Jones told Clinton that she had to go, and Clinton responded that he would not want to make her do anything she did not want to. As Jones was leaving, Clinton told Jones, “You are smart. Let’s keep this between ourselves.” Jones told friends about the incident but did not report it to the police or her supervisors. She continued to work at AIDC, regularly delivering documents to the governor’s office without objection. Nineteen months later, Jones left AIDC and relocated for her husband’s job. Later, once Clinton was president of the United States, Jones sued Clinton and Ferguson, asserting multiple claims. One claim against Clinton was a state tort claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED). After the Supreme Court ruled that presidential immunity did not insulate Clinton from suit, Clinton and Ferguson both moved for summary judgment in the district court.