The sitting president, at the time, had his own impeachment hearings to worry about.
Parliament began impeachment hearings against a judge for the first time in the country's history.
The country went through impeachment hearings and millions of dollars over what was essentially a private matter.
But he is worried about Congress's decision to hold impeachment hearings.
Public focus, however, will be on the impeachment hearings.
Had he told the truth, Congress would have been forced to hold impeachment hearings.
They seem more real, in a way, than the impeachment hearings.
"His role in the impeachment hearings has given him the status of a local hero."
There is no choice now but to push ahead with impeachment hearings.
In fact, his leadership troubles go back further than the impeachment hearings.