Tim Kaine in 2002: Bill Clinton should have resigned

In 2002, then-lieutenant governor Tim Kaine commented on a Virginia House of Delegates sex scandal. “If the allegations are true, he should definitely resign,” Kaine said, adding that he held the same view about Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Kaine categorized both incidents as “not appropriate conduct” and “beneath the dignity of the office.” The Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Washington Post reported on the comments in 2002, according to The Daily Beast.

Fourteen years later, Kaine has changed his story, especially now that he’s running as Hillary Clinton’s vice president. His opinion now is to dismiss the charges against Bill as something that happened 20 years ago.

“Twenty years ago, I was disappointed like a lot of folks were, but I tell ya, there is no reason to re-litigate problems of 20 years ago when Americans want to talk about is what do we do today and tomorrow,” Kaine said, according to CNN. Instead, he feels voters care more about issues like the economy and foreign affairs rather than “past controversies.”

Kaine’s campaign spokeswoman Amy Dudley defended him in a statement.

“As the Associated Press reported at the time, Kaine characterized President Clinton’s actions as ‘not appropriate’ conduct, but he had previously been on record criticizing the impeachment effort,” Dudley said. “He believes this election is about Hillary Clinton’s vision to make historic investments to create good paying jobs, make college debt free and build an economy that works for everyone, not re-litigating personal issues from the distant past.”