Final answer:
The affair between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky became public due to an investigation led by Kenneth Starr, which started from a separate sexual harassment lawsuit. After evidence was provided by Lewinsky, Clinton was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. The scandal had a significant impact on the public's view of the Clinton administration but did not lead to his removal from office.
Step-by-step explanation:
The affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky became public when the independent counsel Kenneth Starr expanded his investigation to include this relationship. Initially, Paula Jones filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton, and her lawyers later included Lewinsky's name as another possible victim. Clinton and Lewinsky both denied the relationship under oath, but evidence suggested otherwise, leading Starr to investigate potential perjury.
Despite the investigation into this affair by Kenneth Starr, the public grew tired of the legal nuances and instead became more engaged with the salacious details provided by late-night talk shows and media discussions. After Lewinsky was granted immunity, she provided evidence of the affair, and Clinton admitted to inappropriate relations, though denying perjury. In December 1998, following a report from Starr, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives impeached Clinton, but he was acquitted by the Senate.
The impeachment of President Clinton was a politically divisive event, and while it affected the public's perception of the administration, Clinton maintained a strong approval rating at the end of his presidency despite his impeachment and loss of his law license.