Lewinsky ‘would still take Bill Clinton back’

Friends of Monica Lewinsky claim she is still in love with former President Bill Clinton and "would take him back in a second", according to a report in the US tabloid the National Enquirer.

Lewinsky, the former White House intern whose relationship with Clinton nearly destroyed his presidency, has never married or had children since the scandal 15 years ago.

That's because "she still loves him", say her friends. One of them is quoted by the Enquirer as saying that Monica told her: "There will never be another man in my life that could make me as happy as he did."

The friend goes on: "Monica still carries a torch for him. She's dated some guys, off and on, since the whole White House mess. But she's never been able to get Bill out of her heart."

It is not clear whether the friend spoke with Lewinsky's blessing. And, as always, any National Enquirer story comes with a 'health warning' - it may not be totally accurate. That said, the tabloid has a reputation for breaking reporting genuine scoops, including the revelation of Sen John Edwards having a love child with his videographer.

At the time of the Lewinsky scandal, Bill Clinton vehemently denied an affair, famously appearing on TV where he wagged his finger at the nation and declared: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"

While the Republicans tried and failed to impeach him, Clinton eventually admitted to "an inappropriate relationship". Explaining what he meant, Lewinsky helpfully told the public that her relationship with the president involved her performing sexual acts on him - but not full sexual intercourse.

And students of US political history will remember that she kept a blue dress which, she claimed, held DNA evidence of their affair.

In an interview with CBS TV to promote his memoirs, Clinton said he became involved with Lewinsky "for the worst possible reason. Just because I could."

Lewinsky was mortified. "That's not how it was," she said at the time. "This was a mutual relationship, mutual on all levels, right from the way it started and all the way through." ·