The Clintons' legal team had argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that they would never have had to face such a lengthy investigative process were it not for their positions as president and first lady. The Court disagreed.

"We harbor no doubt that in the absence of the independent counsel statute the allegations surrounding the Clintons, Madison Guaranty and Whitewater would have been similarly investigated and prosecuted by the Department of Justice," the panel wrote. The Whitewater investigation initially focused on a shady land deal involving both Clintons and their business partners, James and Susan McDougal, but was later expanded to deal with other issues, including whether or not Bill Clinton lied to a jury about an affair he had with intern Monica Lewinsky. Filegate, Travelgate, and the E-mailgate investigation (uncovered by JW) were also bundled in with the Whitewater investigation.

The Whitewater probe ultimately led to 24 indictments, 16 convictions and the impeachment of President Clinton. Yet despite the fact that evidence revealed that, "statements given by both the president and the first lady were factually inaccurate," no criminal charges were filed against them. In March 2002 Independent Counsel Robert Ray concluded the Whitewater investigation, indicating he found "insufficient evidence" to bring charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton. Ray, who himself harbors political aspirations, came under fire for botching the investigation and letting the Clintons off the hook.